Sinulog fluvial parade draws 150 vessels

CEBU CITY, Philippines – At least 150 vessels joined yesterday’s fluvial procession for the Sto. Niño from the Ouano wharf in Mandaue City to Pier Uno here.

The number was beyond what organizers expected, as only 65 vessels registered for the fluvial parade along with 60 marshal seacraft which helped oversee the procession.

The rest of the vessels that took part were unregistered, prompting Capt. Rolando Punzalan, Cebu Coast Guard head, to order his men yesterday to take video footages and pictures of these boats as evidence.

Punzalan said the owners of these unregistered vessels would be given maritime violation receipts for taking part des-pite their failure to register for the event.

“Many were uncooperative, they did not follow the guidelines and they did not cooperate according to the plan,” he said.

Punzalan nevertheless said the fluvial procession was successful as no untoward incidents happened. The procession started on time at 6:20 a.m. yesterday and the galleon bearing the image of the Sto. Ñino arrived at 7:30 a.m. at Pier Uno where thousands of devotees were waiting.

“It was indeed successful. We were able to achieve our objective of safely docking the galleon in disembarking the holy image of Señor Sto. Niño. We arrived at exactly 7:30 a.m. as per our record. We arrived on time,” Punzalan said, adding that this was an improvement from last year.

Unlike in previous years, this year’s fluvial procession did not follow the usual route.

“The wind was strong and unpredictable and it was shifting, and we made observations many days before. It would be very unsafe to the galleon and the participants if they would compress to one side,” Punzalan said.

“It is incredible. I did not experience the same spectacular event in the sea ever before,” said Warren Daquin, a tourist from Hawaii.

The arrival of the Sto. Niño’s image at Pier Uno was greeted with dances, songs, and chants of “Viva! Pit Senyor!”

A foot procession from Pier Uno to the Basilica del Sto. Niño followed, re-enacting the arrival of the images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Sto. Nino and the First Mass and Baptism. – Freeman News Service