THE fluvial parade to be participated by around 60 motorized boats, including speed boats and jetskis, will be held today to kick off the fiesta celebration of Lapu-Lapu in honor of the Our Lady of Rule on November 21.
The event will start with a Concelebrated Mass at the Marigondon Parish Church. After the Mass, the image will be motorcaded towards Pacific Cebu Resort in Barangay Sub-basbas where the fluvial procession will depart at around 7 a.m. towards the Muelle Osmeña wharf.
Cultural dancers in colorful costumes will welcome the image at the wharf. Lapu-Lapu City officials headed by Mayor Paz Radaza will carry the image to the Our Lady of Rule church, where a Mass for the devotees will be held.
The fluvial procession will pass through the Hilutongan and Mactan channels covering Barangays Marigondon, Agus, Maribago, Punta Engaño, Mactan Buaya, Ibo, Pusok and Pajo.
The Philippine Coast Guard will see to it that participating motorboats are in order during the fluvial parade.
Philippine Red Cross personnel will also be on standby to assist devotees who need medical attention.
The participating motorized boats are expected to be well decorated with cultural dancers and a drum and bugle group performing on board as they vie for the most beautifully decorated motor boat.
Two Philippine Air Force helicopters will hover over the parade to provide security, while a private plane from the Indiana Aerospace University (IAU) will be used for flower dropping.
The Mactan channel will be closed from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. to give way to the fluvial procession.