Fiesta Señor activities officially start today

CEBU, Philippines —  The 458th Fiesta Senor in Cebu City is set to formally kick off early today, January 5, with the holding of traditional religious events beginning with the Penitential Walk with Jesus.

After two years of restricted movement, the fiesta is expected to draw more devotees this time given the eased restrictions.

The Basilica Minore del Santo Nino will open its gates as early as 3 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. daily beginning today.

For the Penitential Walk with Jesus, assembly time is set at 3:30 a.m. at the Fuente Osmeña Circle going to the Basilica passing through the Osmeña Boulevard, covering 2.1 kilometers.

Aside from the throng of personnel from the Philippine National Police and the City Disaster team among others, over a hundred of employees from the Cebu Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team (CESET) and Barangay Environmental Officer in the City will also be deployed today.

CESET head Grace Luardo said they have assigned personnel 24/7 during the nine-day novena and the rest of the scheduled religious activities for to ensure cleanliness in the city.

Along with this, Luardo said that even at a religious event, everyone is expected to observe cleanliness and not just throw their garbage and smoke cigarettes anywhere, as they will be fined if caught.

Right after the penitential walk follows the solemn mass for the opening salvo at the Basilica at 5 a.m. with rector Fr. Nelson Zerda, OSA leading the celebration.

This year’s fiesta carries the theme, “Sto. Nino: Our Source of Peace in the Walk of Faith.”

The installation of Hermano Mayor and Hermana Mayores 2023  follows at  5:30 a.m. This year’s Hermano and Hermana Mayor are couple Engr. Venerando and Dr. Donna Lei Olandria, who are both long-time devotees of Sto. Nino de Cebu.

The nine-day novena mass starts at 7 a.m. with Cebuano and English versions.

“Kada adlaw aduna kitay napulo ka novena masses from day 1 to day 9 gikan  January 5 to 13,” said Fr. John Ion Miranda, spokesperson of the Basilca Minore del Sto. Nino.

During the eve or “visperas” of the fiesta, there will be three masses in the morning and a pontifical mass at 6 p.m. right after the solemn foot procession.

Miranda is asking for everyone to keep everything in order to avoid any untoward incident.

“Hangyo lang gamay nga sa atong pagsulog sa Basilica del Santo Nino maghinay-hinay lang kita ug dili magtukmoray aron atong maangkon ang malinawon, hapsay ug solemnidad nga pagsaulog sa Fiesta Senyor 2023,” Miranda said.

On January 13, there will also be a Walk with Mary followed by the traslacion in Mandaue.

On January 14, there will be a fluvial procession from Lapu-Lapu to Pier 1 via the Cebu-Cordova Expressway Link in the morning while the solemn foot procession will take place starting at 2 in the afternoon.

The Sinulog grand parade will be on January 15 at the South Road Properties.

January 16 is a thanksgiving day at the Basilica and the Adlaw sa Hubo is on the 20th.

Devotee City

Meanwhile, City Councilor Francis Esparis disclosed that the Devotee City will be put up at the side of Fort San Pedro near the Philpost office.

Close to 20 container vans will be converted as temporary shelters for out-of-town devotees who cannot afford to stay in a hotel or have no relatives in this city.

It will run from January 13 to 15.

Since only 300 individuals can be accommodated in the Devotee City, it will be on a “first come, first serve basis”.

Those who would like to avail will have to show proof like a bus or boat ticket to be able to avail of this free accommodation. – Sanden J. Anadia and Rowena D. Capistrano, JMD (FREEMAN)