30 are ‘Party Crashers’ 150 vessels join fluvial procession

CEBU, Philippines - Around 150 vessels attended the fluvial procession for the pilgrim image of the Señor Santo Niño yesterday from the Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City to Pier 1 in Cebu City.  Earlier, a crowd of 40,000 saw the image off from the St. Joseph National Shrine to the Ouano Wharf.

The number of vessels was beyond what was expected to attend as only 65 vessels were registered along with 60 marshal sea craft that helped in regulating the flow of the parade.  The rest of the 20 to 30 vessels were unregistered.

With this, Capt. Rolando Punzalan, Cebu Coast Guard commander, ordered his men yesterday to take videos and photos of the vessels that were unregistered as proof.

Punzalan said that the owner of those unregistered vessels will be given a maritime violation receipt for participating in the fluvial procession without registering.

“Mga 20 plus o 30 the most ang unregistered vessel or boat. Pag normally ganyan na karami (unregistered) we would sit down and analyze it. Pero ang initial count is 150,” said Punzalan.

“Many uncooperative, they did not follow the guidelines and they did not cooperate according to the plan,” Punzalan added.

But Punzalan also said the procession was satisfactory and there were no untoward incidents reported as the procession headed to Pier 1 from Ouano Wharf.

“Yung alon ay hindi malaki kanina ‘yung ha-ngin naman po ang medyo malakas.  Humina siya noong nag-phase two na po tayo ‘nung umikot na po ang galleon sa Muelle Osmeña from Ouano Wharf. Wala po tayong natanggap na incident during the activity,” said Punzalan.

They were able to start and finish on time, as the image was placed inside the “galleon” Trinidad at 6 a.m. and they were able to sail around 6:20 a.m.

The galleon arrived at 7:30 a.m. in Pier 1 where the image was welcomed by thousands of devotees waiting for its arrival.

“It was indeed successful.  We were able to achieve our objective of safely docking the galleon in disembarking the Holy Image of Señor Santo Niño. We arrived at exactly 7:30 as per our record. We arrived on time,” said Punzalan.

Because of the time constraint, they no longer passed by the Pasil area as it would take more than or almost one hour, from there to Pier 1.

This year’s fluvial procession did not follow the usual route.

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

Hawaiian tourist Warren Daquin, observing the procession from a Coast Guard vessel, said that the fluvial procession was an incredible experience.

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

After the pilgrim image arrived in Pier 1, thousands of devotees waiting in the area welcomed it with song and dance.  This was followed by a foot procession from Pier 1 to the Basilica del Santo Niño where the reenactment of the arrival of the images of the Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Santo Niño was done as well as the First Mass and Baptism in Cebu, where the basilica’s new rector Fr. Jonas Mejares played Fr. Valderama.

Mejares said in his homily that the reenactment of the Baptism reminds the devotees to do their best to live according to the will of God, which is to get rid of evil and follow in His footsteps.

He also asked for the intercession of God to guide all the people in choosing the best leaders of the country during the election.

Mejares, started his homily by singing the famous Yoyoy Villame song “Magellan” and ended the homily with the inspirational song “Sto. Niño, Kaluwasan Ko”.

The reenactment of the Baptism of the Rajah Humabon and Reyna Juana were also done to renew the Baptism of all the devotees in attendance.

After the Mass, the Basilica Cofradia del Sto. Nino, Guadalupe, Mabolo and the San Diego Sinulog contingents showcased their different Sinulog dance presentations.

Earlier in Mandaue City, an estimated 40,000 devotees joined yesterday dawn’s foot procession that brought the pilgrim images of the Holy Child and Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Ouano Wharf from the St. Joseph National Shrine.

The send-off Mass was celebrated by Msgr. Arthur Navales who posed the question to the faithful why this year was declared as the “Year of Faith”.

“Nganong gideklarar man nga wa man ta magkuwang sa atong pagtuo, gani nagsugwak man ang mga tawo sa simbahan,” Navales said in his homily.

Mandaue City Police Office director Senior Supt. Petronell Baldebrin said that yesterday’s foot procession was very peaceful and orderly.

There was no resistance from the devotees whenever they were reminded to follow the procedure leading to Ouano Wharf.

Baldebrin also thanked the AFP and the force multipliers like the barangay tanods, Barangay Intelligence Network and students for helping secure the event.  — (FREEMAN)