The fluvial procession led by the yacht carrying the image of the Our Lady of the Rule passed by the two Mandaue-Mactan bridges. (contributed photo by Lapu lapu City PIO)
About 60 colorful decorated motor bancas, speedboats and jet skis joined yesterday’s fluvial procession to honor the Our Lady of the Rule, the patroness of Lapu-Lapu City, and to kick off celebrations leading to its feast day on Nov. 21.
An estimated 6,000 devotees attended the early concelebrated Mass at the Marigondon Parish Church and sent off the image of the Lady of the Rule in a motorcade to the Pacific Cebu Resort in Barangay Suba-Basbas, a few kilometers from the church, where the yacht, Luna de Miele, waited to start the fluvial parade and bring the Lady of the Rule’s image back to the Shrine of the Our Lady of the Rule in Barangay Poblacion.
Residents threw flower petals on the vehicle carrying the image of the Lady of the Rule during the motorcade as it passed by them. They also released balloons and lit firecrackers to celebrate the passing of the image of the Virgin Mary.
Lapu-Lapu City officials, however, waited at the Muelle Osmeña wharf where the fluvial procession would end and where the Lady of the Rule’s image would be carried back to the Lapu-Lapu City Parish Church.
Among those officials were Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, City Councilor Harry Don Radaza and the mayor’s daughter Rep. Aileen Radaza.
“Every year bisan dili pa konsehal sa una, kanunay gyud ming pamilya nga mosugat sa Birhen ug magpasalamat sa maayong panglawas ug mga grasya nga nadawat (Every year even when I was not yet a councilor, our family has always been greeting the image and giving thanks for the good health and the blessings we recieved),” Councilor Radaza said.
The fluvial procession lasted for an hour and a half as it sailed along the Hilutongan Channel starting at the Pacific Cebu Resort in Barangay Suba-Basbas heading to the tip of Barangay Punta Engaño and then to the Mactan Channel and back to the Muelle Osmeña wharf where the yacht carrying the Lady’s image docked.
Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard were in-charge as sea marshalls during the fluvial parade while the medics from the Philippine Red Cross also made sure that the medical emergencies would be taken care of during the event.
Each motorized boats sent by participating barangays of the city were decorated and carried cultural dancers with drum and bugle groups.
The parade of boats stopped at the tip of Barangay Punta Engaño called the Mangal Point to drop coins or offer food to honor Datu Mangal (Lapu-Lapu’s father), which is a tradition in passing through the area.
Security was also tight with the Philippine Air Force chopper closely monitoring the procession from the air while an Indiana Aerospace University plane dropped flowers at the yacht of the Lady’s image from Hilutongan Channel and when it docked at the Muelle Osmeña wharf.
Cultural dancers in colorful costumes welcomed the image at the wharf where Lapu-Lapu City officials led by Mayor Radaza waited to carry the image toward the church.
Later, a Mass for the devotees of Our Lady of the Rule was held at the Shrine officiated by the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Leonardo Cabrera.