CEBU, Philippines — No fireworks. No balloons. No drones. No backpacks. And most importantly, no politicking.
These are among the things prohibited by the inter-agency committee organizing this year’s Fiesta Señor. Officials and aspiring politicians are also advised not to expect any VIP (very important person) treatment from the Basilica officials.
“We urge politicians and the wannabes not to use the celebration for politicking,” said Fr. Aladdin Luzon, director of the Safety, Security, Peace and Order cluster.
He said whether politicians or ordinary people, all have to follow the rules such as the traffic flow or the entry to the Basilica. Politicians are expected to take advantage of the celebration to campaign for the upcoming elections.
The Augustinian community in Cebu, however, clarified that it will still accept donations from politicians but it will not be recognized publicly. Luzon underscored that the religious event should not be marred by any political agenda that seeks to promote people who are running for the May 13 elections.
Fr. Pacifico Nohara Jr., the Basilica rector and the overall chairman of the 454th Fiesta Señor, said there will be no fireworks display after the 6 p.m. Pontifical Mass that follows after the solemn procession on January 19.
A fireworks display after the solemn procession on the eve of the feast day has been practiced before but the Augustinian fathers decided to ditch it this year as part of their pro-environment initiative. The religious community will instead use the funds for charity.
Another pro-environment action that the current leadership of the Basilica is implementing is the ban of balloons inside the Basilica complex. Fr. Dante Juloc, director of the procession cluster, said devotees are also not allowed to bring balloons during the solemn procession.
Juloc said that aside from the harmful chemicals in balloons, these may also cause power outage when in contact with power lines.
Nagiel Bañacia, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CCDRRMC) chief, cited an incident in the past where a portion of the carousel route during the Sinulog Grand Parade experienced power outage because a balloon hit the power lines.
Bañacia said a single balloon can cause a huge impact because it might shut off available communication lines and paralyze emergency response operation.
Senior Superintendent Royina Garma, director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said officers will also prohibit anyone from using drones or any flying object. She said that Cebu City, especially the significant venues of the celebration, will be considered as “no fly zone.”
The public are also discouraged from using backpacks. Those attending Masses at the Basilica are advised to use small bags for easy inspection by security personnel.
No Selfies
Nohara also asked those attending Masses at the Basilica to avoid taking selfies or pictures so as not to disrupt the solemnity of the celebration. The novena Masses leading to the feast of Señor Sto. Niño will kick off tomorrow with the penitential foot procession dubbed as “Walk with Jesus” from the Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.
The Basilica, starting on the first day of the novena, will be opened to the public except from 9 p.m. until 11 p.m. where personnel have to clean the premises and redecorate the altar.
On the last of the novena, another dawn procession dubbed as “Walk with Mary” will be held to bring the image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of Cebu, to the Basilica. After the Mass, the two images will be journeying for the “traslacion” to the National Shrine of St. Joseph Parish in Mandaue City in preparation for the fluvial parade on January 19.
Vendors told to register
Meanwhile, the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) has encouraged vendors to register so that they will be allowed to sell their products along the Sinulog route from January 18 to 20.
DWUP operations head Genevieve Alcoseba said they will issue identification cards for the accredited vendors. She said they will confiscate the merchandise sold by unregistered vendors.
Alcoseba said that personnel from the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement (PROBE) team will apprehend all violators.
The city government came up with this scheme to regulate vendors during the Sinulog season. To register, vendors are required to submit a valid ID and payment of the registration fee at the City Treasurer’s Office. So far, there are already about 1,000 vendors who registered with DWUP.
Traffic at Basilica
The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) also warned drivers to observe proper parking to avoid being clamped. CCTO operations chief Francisco Ouano said they are strictly implementing the traffic policy within the immediate vicinity of the Basilica.
He said only vehicles with PWD (person with disability) passengers are allowed to stop near the Basilica. Parking area is at the open space near Compaña Maritima building. According to Ouano, the streets near the Basilica will be closed to traffic starting on Thursday.
At least 10 traffic enforcers will be deployed to man and monitor the traffic condition in all intersections near the church. - FPL (FREEMAN)