PHL: CEBU 2011 Feast of Sto. Nino "FLUVIAL AND FOOT PROCESSION"

January 15, 2011

Today, two processions take place: FLUVIAL, from Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City, traversing sea towards Cebu City.  On the spiritual aspect of the celebration, the fluvial procession takes the Sto. Nino, Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Joseph back to the Basilica, from St. Joseph Parish in Mandaue, where the Sto. Nino spent the night, one with the Holy Family (see Traslacion).  On the cultural aspect, the FLUVIAL procession re-enacts the coming of the Spaniards on board galeon ships, in 1521, to colonize the island.  The sight on the sea is very beautiful and extra-ordinary, as one does not see many ships sail together at the same time, everyday.  The sea current called "sulog" is the word from where the SINULOG festival is coined after.

This ship is where the Sto. Nino rides with, as re-enactment of the galeon VICTORIA, Magellan's ship from Spain to the Cebu, when he brought the Sto. Nino image to Queen Juana

On the same day, in the afternoon, the Solemn Procession (on foot) was held around the city.  The new archbishop of Cebu, archbishops and priests, were joined by millions of devotees during the procession.  Despite heavy rain, the procession was as solemn as ever, devotees unfazed and ever faithful to the Sto. Nino.  The procession route was said to be 7km-long, started 1pm and ended 530pm, right after which a Pontifical Mass was held at the Basilica.  After the mass, the devotees performed the traditional Sinulog dance in front of the altar, even though drenched and wet from the rain.

Image of the Sto. Nino during the Solemn Procession, cordoned

Devotees and pilgrims joining the Solemn Procession, outside the cordoned area