Fiesta Señor mobile procession: What to expect?

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Fiesta Señor mobile procession or motorcade will take place in lieu of the fluvial procession and solemn procession on Vesperas Day, January 15, 2022, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño friars said that the motorcade would aim to bring the Señor Sto. Niño to be closer to the devotees despite the limitation of the pandemic especially the Alert Level 3 status that would begin on Friday, January 14.

The Vesperas Day will start with a Solemn Pontifical Mass to be presided by Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones at 5:00 p.m., which will be broadcasted live online.

A short traditional Sinulog will follow the Mass and then a veneration of the Holy Image by the members of the clergy.

At 6:30 p.m., the grand mobile procession will start traversing major thoroughfares from the Basilica to Talisay City through N. Bacalso, then proceeding to the South Road Properties (SRP) through the Cebu Coastal Road, straight to Mandaue City, the First Cebu-Mactan Bridge, then to Lapu-Lapu City, proceeding to Cordova town, crossing the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), and then back to the Basilica.

It must be noted that only five vehicles can join the mobile procession.

However, each local government unit (LGU) within the route will be inserting one vehicle into the procession while the procession is within their jurisdiction. This means that there are only six main vehicles tailing the motorcade at all times.

At least six police motorcycles and two big bikes from Mandaue City will be tailing the motorcade for security.

There will be a one-minute stop-over to the following churches:

1. Holy Cross Parish Church – Barangay Basak, Pardo, Cebu City
2. Santo Tomas Villanueva Parish Church – Barangay Pardo, Cebu City
3. St. Joseph the Worker Parish Church – Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City
4. St. Joseph the Patriarch Parish Church – Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City
5. National Shrine of St. Joseph Parish Church – Mandaue City
6. National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Regla Parish – Barangay Poblacion, Lapu-Lapu City
7. Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish – Barangay Babag, Lapu-Lapu City
8. San Roque Parish Church – Cordova

“We appeal to our devotees to stay on the sidewalks while waiting for the convoy to pass. Refrain from putting up an altar or sound system that could obstruct the route. Observe the minimum standard COVID-19 Health Protocols such as physical distancing and wearing of face mask,” said Fr. Genesis Laban, OSA, the

Heavy Traffic

The Basilica friars remind the public to expect heavy traffic along the procession route because there will be no road closures. The LGUs will be implementing a stop-and-go traffic flow.

“Expect that there will be traffic along the route from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. If possible, commuters are advised to do their plans ahead of time,” said Laban.

Motorists are advised to avoid getting close to the convoy and no other vehicles will be allowed to join except the official convoy. The convoy will be running at a speed from 20-30 kilometers per hour.

City of Talisay-Traffic Operation Development Authority (CT-TODA) head, Jonathan Tumulak, urged those who will be travelling to the South to travel on Friday or Saturday morning ahead of the procession.

Traffic can further be expected because this weekend is a payday and many malls will be holding sales.

Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City representatives for traffic said that during the motorcade, all vehicles would be directed to Marcelo Fernan or Second Bridge to prevent traffic in the First Bridge.

The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) will be deploying 170 police personnel along the route and around the Basilica on Vesperas Day to control the crowd.

They LGUs are urging the public, who want to witness the motorcade, to stay on the sidewalks and avoid getting close to the vehicles for their safety.

They are also urged to wear face masks and practice social distancing at all times.

Basilica closure

In preparation for the mobile procession, the Basilica compound will be closed to the public from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, which means that the public cannot light candles or venerate at the Pilgrim Center during those times.

The gates will open again at 6:30 p.m. and people can visit the Basilica until 10 p.m. on Vesperas Day.

The public will still be allowed to line up outside the Basilica even when the gates are closed. Police personnel will be manning the Basilica perimeters to ensure that health protocols will be implemented at the lines.

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