Well-guarded ‘Birhen sa Regla’ welcomes devotees for fiesta

The icon of the Virgin of the Rule, patroness of Opon, is displayed in this year’s fiesta without the usual jewelry donated by devotees. Private security guards and a volunteer “honor guard” of lay ministers take turns securing the religious image.
(CDN PHOTO/NORMAN MENDOZA)

Hundreds of devotees yesterday crowded the Birhen sa Regla Parish Church in Lapu-Lapu City to attend the feast day Mass of the Virgin of the Rule.

People from all walks of life lined up to venerate the image by praying, and reaching out to kiss and embrace the glass urn holding  the 30-inch image of the city’s patroness.

Carmela Berdon, 43, of barangay Bankal, started lining up at 9 a.m., waiting patiently until it was her turn to stand before the icon at 11 a.m.

As a child, she was brought to the church every Nov. 21 on the feast day of the Birhen de la Regla,  by her mother, a pious devotee.

“Mao nga gipadayon sab ni nako, (That’s why I continue the tradition.)” Berdon said as she offered prayers for good health and blessings for her family and relatives.

The icon, sculpted from “tugas” hardwood by a local artisan, is based on the image in a framed painting brought by Agustinian Friars to Opon, the old name of Lapu-Lapu City, in 1735.

The image was placed at the back of the church’s congregation hall and was guarded by an “honor guard” of four volunteers and two  private security guards on shifting schedules.

The shrine has two CCTV cameras. There are other cameras within the compound and a police help desk is at the plaza area.
Security is tighter after the theft of donated jewelry adorning the image two years ago.

Brother Roger Potot, a lay minister for seven years and part of the shrinés honor guard told CDN that they no longer display jewelry on the image on the first week of November in order to avoid inviting thieves.

He said a hole was discovered last Nov. 1 in the wall of the shrine where a piece of plywood was detached but nothing was lost.
Nothing untoward was recorded in the CCTV cameras.

The Nov. 28, 2012 burglary is no longer talked about much by the parish priest and workers.  Potot said the theft was not an inside job but the handiwork of external elements.

He declined to comment on the whereabouts of Fr. Jayme Duero, the former parish priest who was in charge during that incident.

No one was arrested and the missing jewelry, a staggering collection of 69 necklaces, 70 rings and 16 bracelets remain unaccounted for.

The valuables were pieces donated by  pious devotees.

This year’s fiesta has been generally peaceful and orderly, said Senior Supt. Armando Radoc, acting police chief of Lapu-Lapu.

On Thursday, a foot procession was held at 4 p.m. along city streets till past 6 p.m.

Fr. Leonardo Cabrera who assumed as parish priest last July  officiated the mass.

Traffic was heavy in the outskirts of the poblacion but was well managed by enforcers.