The Augustinian fathers of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño are on the final stretch of preparations for the Fiesta Señor 2018 which is expected to draw at least a million people from different parts of the country.
“We’re 95 percent ready. Almost everything is in place. We only need some refinements,” said Fr. Ric Anthony Reyes, the secretary of the 2018 Fiesta Señor Executive Committee, in a press conference on Thursday.
He said they await the confirmation of some priests and bishops who were invited to celebrate Masses during the novena and feast of the Sto. Niño.
Lawyer Paul Yabao, the overall Fiesta Señor consultant, said they were also informed about the possibility that President Rodrigo Duterte will drop by the basilica to venerate the image of the child Jesus on Jan. 21.
“He may come to the basilica after giving a speech at the Cebu City Sports Center during the Sinulog although we have not received any formal communication yet,” he said.
The Fiesta Senor 2018 officially starts on January 11 with the annual “Walk with Jesus”, a penitential foot procession from Fuente Osmeña to the basilica at 4 a.m.