Sto. Niño devotees urged to attend Hubo Mass online

Cebu City Councilor Philip Zafra, City Council chairperson for the committee on peace and order, is encouraging Sto. Niño devotees to attend the Hubo Mass online or virtually instead of coming to the basilica. | screengrabbed from Zafra interview

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Sto. Niño devotees are urged to watch the Hubo Mass online instead of attending the Mass physically. 

Despite this call, Councilor Philip Zafra, Cebu City Council’s chairperson for committee on peace and order, said the city government was well prepared for the influx of devotees. 

Read: Some barriers around Basilica to be removed, roads to open after ‘Hubo’ mass

The Mass, which is expected to start at 5:30 a.m. tomorrow, January 22, 2021, and go on for more than an hour, is a crowd-drawing activity, which is why authorities have not removed the barriers around the basilica’s vicinity. 

“Just like what we have done in the first place pagsugod sa novena, wala man ni nato giluagan atong security dinhing dapita. All systems go, police ug force multipliers,” said Zafra. 

(Just like what we have done in the first place when the novena started, we are not easing up on the security in this area. All systems go, police and force multipliers.)

Read: Palma to devotees: Keep your faith in the Holy Child strong

The devotees will still be asked to bring a quarantine pass regardless of number coding before they can enter the basilica. 

However, the 50 percent capacity of the church, and its vicinity will be strictly followed. 

Residents of other cities are allowed to enter provided the capacity has not been reached. They will need to present their own quarantine passes. 

“We will require the face masks, face shield, maintain gyod sa social distancing,” said the councilor. 

Watch: Councilor Zafra on preparation for Hubo mass

Still, Zafra urged the Sto. Niño devotees, who are non-residents, to simply stay at home and watch the live streaming instead of going to the basilica. 

He noted the steady rise of the cases not only in Cebu City but the rest of Cebu as well.

“Atong kahadlokan nga basin makatakod sila dinhi, or matakdan sila dayon dalhun nila pauli,” said the councilor. 

(What we are worried about is that they may be infected here and then they will bring the virus home.)

Since the Hubo Mass will only happen once on Friday, Zafra expects that the crowd of devotees will disperse after the Mass. 

By Saturday, January 23, 2021, the city government will start removing the barriers so that the surrounding roads of the Basilica will be reopened. /dbs

Read: Still rising, COVID-19 active cases in Cebu City nears 700

Read: EOC isolates COVID-19 positive cop, contacts assigned to basilica