460TH FIESTA SEÑOR: 160,000 devotees join ‘Walk with Jesus’

Local

AS LIGHT rain drizzled over Cebu City early morning on Thursday, January 9, approximately 160,000 devotees gathered along Osmeña Boulevard for the 460th Fiesta Señor celebration .

Carrying candles and images of Señor Santo Niño, they filled the streets with light and prayers, kicking off the religious observance in grand style.

The day’s events began at 3 a.m. with the Penitential Walk with Jesus, which started at Fuente Osmeña Circle. A steady stream of faithful processed down the city’s main thoroughfare, their candlelit procession brightening the otherwise gray skies.

It was a powerful display of devotion to Señor Santo Niño de Cebu, who has long been a symbol of faith for Cebuanos.

The Fiesta Señor celebration aligns with the Sinulog Festival, both taking place on the third Sunday of January. While Fiesta Señor focuses on the religious side of the event, Sinulog brings a cultural dimension to the festivities, both honoring the Holy Child.

By 5 a.m., the procession reached the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu, where more devotees gathered to welcome the image at the Pilgrim Center.

The mass that followed marked the induction of this year's Hermana and Hermano Mayores, Mrs. Gremar Teresa Uy Matiao and Mr. Dante Uy Matiao.

With the Basilica’s capacity limited to 5,000 for safety, some worshippers gathered outside, watching the mass on large LED screens strategically set up near Magellan's Cross and the Commission on Elections office.

Authorities reported a smooth event, with no crimes or incidents.

Lt. Col. Maria Theresa Macatangay, deputy city director for operations of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), confirmed that there were no reported criminal activities during the opening event.

Macatangay shared that the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office estimated a crowd of over 160,000 participants, a bit fewer than the 300,000 attendees in 2023 and 200,000 in 2024.

Macatangay credited the success of the event to the careful planning of security measures but also emphasized the need for improvements in crowd management.

To ensure public safety, over 1,000 officers were deployed along the procession route. Two hours before the start, officers secured roads and restricted access to areas around the Basilica.

Brig. Gen. Dionisio Bartolome, officer-in-charge of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas, praised the efforts of local officers, as did his spokesperson, Lt. Col. Jenette Rafter.

Despite large crowds pressing closer to the Santo Niño image, officers maintained order, ensuring the procession proceeded safely.

Rev. Fr. Jules Van Almerez, the Basilica’s media liaison, also encouraged attendees to follow guidelines, such as adhering to the proper dress code and avoiding bringing large bags to the event.

For smoother access, he asked the public to rely on official social media for updates. Almerez also reminded attendees of the 11 daily masses during the nine-day novena, leading up to Fiesta Señor Day.

For 22-year-old nursing intern Abbie Rodriguez from Barangay Basak Pardo, attending the mass was a testament to both her faith and resilience. She worked a graveyard shift before joining the first novena mass.

Despite the challenges, she is committed to attending all nine novena sessions in honor of the Holy Child and hopes to soon pass the nursing licensure exam.

“Basta Cebuano, devotee na ra gyud ta ni (Cebuanos are devoted to Señor Sto. Niño), and growing up in a Christian household, it’s always been our tradition,” she said.(MyTVCebu)