CEBU, Philippines — Just like many other Catholics, university student Mary Grace Quidet, 20, goes to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño every afternoon to complete the nine-day novenas leading to the Fiesta Señor on Sunday.
Coming from Urgello Street in Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City, Quidet, a Santo Niño devotee for several years now, normally takes two jeepney rides, alighting at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, then walking her way to the basilica.
She was surprised to find out, though, that from the cathedral, she now has to walk further along Magallanes Street before she could find a spot near the basilica to hear the novena mass due to the implemented changes in the flow of devotees.
“Nahasol lang ko gamay kay inig naog nako sa Cathedral, kinahanglan pa ko motuyok. Wala sad ko kauyon gamay kay usahay bisa’g exit, naa ray maka-sneak in to enter bisag naa’y pulis nagbantay, so inconsistent siya usahay,” Quidet told The FREEMAN.
Despite this, she understands that adjustments are necessary to improve security measures.
“Pero okay ra man sad kay usa nalang ang flow inig sulod ug inig gawas,” she said.
Yesterday, authorities urged devotees like Quidet to be more patient and to follow rules on exits and entrances during novena masses.
Police and church officials earlier agreed that the gate across Magellan’s Cross be designated as the sole entrance into the basilica’s Pilgrim Center, while Osmeña Boulevard is the way out, along with portions of Lapu-Lapu Street and Plaridel Street.
Reyman Tolentin, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-7 and a devotee himself, said the system made the flow of people inside the basilica much smoother this year.
“Mas orderly gyud ikumpara nato sa previous Sinulog celebration ang misa pwerting huota, unya inig gawas nimo sugaton ka sa mga naglinya pud nga daghan kaayo mosulod. Matawag nato nga mas hapsay karon kung ikumpara nato sa mga nangaging nobenaryo sa Sinulog. Bisan daghan man og tawo, systematized, unya orderly so mas okay karon,” Tolentin said.
Jonathan Saso, 47, a volunteer for Adelante Life Emergency Response Team, echoed Tolentin’s statements.
“Much improved siya this year considering nga mas guided ang crowd,” Saso said. “The only challenge is for those nga mga wala ma-aware sa changes, they really have to adjust.”
Saso sees the system as more appropriate and convenient in case of emergency because they can easily access the roads.
Meanwhile, authorities are doubling efforts to ensure security and safety of the public during the Fiesta Señor and Sinulog activities, and Tolentin said policemen are tasked to observe proper implementation of rules and not hide from the crowd.
“Dapat actual engagement, di lang pa text-text. Ang uban magtago sa kilid dapat gyud maka-responde atong kapulisan,” he said.
He said police commanders down to ordinary personnel are directed to memorize routes for the remaining events such as Walk with Mary, Traslacion, and the Sinulog Grand Parade.
“Pag-igtingon ang route security sa kapulisan. Pag-master gyud sa routes ug sectors. Dapat very familiar ang commanders if naa mahitabo. Ato silang gihatagan og directives pinaagi sa atong Regional Director (Chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino), nga matag side sa kalsada dapat ang police naka on-guard,” Tolentin said. (FREEMAN)