January 2016 busy with Sinulog, Int’l Eucharistic Congress, and maybe the Pope

SIDE BY SIDE AGAIN

A sinulog dance is offered by the Sandiego Dance Company outside the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral before the ceremonial ringing of a bell to start the one-year countdown for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress. They are dressed in the same costume used in their sinulog presentation at the Luneta Mass with Pope Francis.
(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

Cebu City will have double celebrations in January next year when it hosts both the Sinulog Festival and the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) a week apart.

With the almost-simultaneous events expected to draw large crowds comes the exciting possibility of Pope Francis coming for the IEC, after his recent five-day pastoral visit drew unprecedented crowds of 6 million in Manila.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who said he had “no doubts” the Pope would return for the IEC,  yesterday said he already instructed Sinulog organizers to be ready for challenges in handling traffic and crowds.

“Preparation for the Sinulog 2016 should commence  yesterday, side by side with plans for the IEC and the Pope’s visit,” Rama told guests at the church launch of the 100-day countdown for the Eucharistic Congress held at the Cathedral Museum and the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Rama assured that the Cebu city government would work with the Cebu Archdiocese to ensure a successful congress, the way both coordinated religious and revelry aspects of the Feast of the Sto. Niño.

The IEC on Jan. 24 to  31, Sunday to Sunday, is expected to gather 15,000 delegates from all over the world. The  international religious conference  will be spearheaded by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).The opening and closing Masses are estimated to gather 1 million.

A week earlier, on Jan. 17, Sunday, is the Sinulog Parade and Fiesta Señor which normally draws over 1 million spectators and participants who join the revelry, street dancing competitions,  and religious processions that build up after nine-day Novena masses.

DRUMS, MASS
The coming twin events were captured in yesterday’s ceremony.

There were drum beats, a Sinulog dance by the Sandiego Dance Company, liturgical chants, and a Holy Mass to mark the year-long countdown for next year’s big event.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and Mayor Rama switched on a countdown clock flashed on a video screen outside the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedal past 5 p.m.

“Three hundred sixty five days from now, Cebu City will be the venue for this significant event. We consecrate the remaining time to the Lord. May the 2016 IEC be successful, peaceful, fruitful, and memorable,” said Palma.

The IEC which is hosted every four years in different countries, aims to strengthen the faith of Catholic laymen and religious, and promote awareness of the importance of the Eucharist as the actual presence of Jesus Christ in the Church.

The last time the Philippines hosted the IEC was in 1937 in Manila.

FULL OF SURPRISES
Archbishop Palma said he remains hopeful that Pope Francis will attend the 51st IEC in Cebu City.

He said two invitations were  sent to the Holy Father, one from the CBCP and the second, a handwritten letter in Spanish from Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who asked Pope Francis to come back and visit Cebu next year.

“The pope is full of surprises. Who knows, he may come back. Let us open ourselves to surprises,” said Palma.

Palma will follow up the invitation when he goes to Rome in October to attend the Synod of Bishops.

“I’ll see him (Francis) everyday during the synod. So, I’ll just whisper to him that the people in Cebu are intently praying for his presence during the IEC,” said the prelate with a smile.

The Archdiocese of Cebu is building a pavillon with a 15,000-person capacity for the main venue of the congress at the San Carlos Seminary Compound in Mabolo.

The P550 million edifice financed by Duros Land Properties is expected to be finished by October 2015.

“If there’s one sacrament that has become a symbol of unity, that is the Eucharist. I’m just happy that the Church, the government, and everyone has pledged their support for the IEC,” Palma said.  He thanked all parties for their “volunteerism and offering your resources.”

Palma said the choice of Cebu City as venue was significant.

“Cebu is special in many ways. It is here that the first Christian baptism was held. We have the right to say that Cebu is the cradle of Christianity in the Philippines. This is something we treasure and take pride of. But this gift has become a responsibility to share our joy, faith, and experience of God to others,” he said.

Mayor Rama said Cebu City should be prepared for Pope Francis.

“The pope will come. That’s my belief. What we need is faith. Do not doubt. He will be here. The preparations for Sinulog 2016 started yesterday (Friday).”

Asked about reports that 500 street children and their families were rounded up in Manila to keep them out of view during Pope Franics visit, Rama said he would never do that.

He pointed out how City Hall always sets up a Devotee City every Sinulog as free lodging for poor pilgrims and transients from the provinces who come to the city for the Sinulog.

“Cebuanos are human beings. They are part of the celebrations. We are showing sensitivity here in Cebu, unlike what happened in Manila,” he said.

FRANCIS INTERESTED
Elvira Go, who heads the national promotion  and publicity committee of the 51st IEC, said the 2016 event is even bigger than the recent visit of Pope Francis.

“The papal visit is about the pope. But the IEC is about our faith and Jesus. Let’s all pray for the success of this event,” she said.

In an audience with Pope Francis at the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila, Go said she showed him the donation box for the Piso Para sa Misa ng Mundo fund raising campaign.

“He’s interested. He brought with him the box and letter to Rome,” she said.

An exhibit opened yesterday to show previous IECs, particularly the gathering in Manila in 1937.

Medallions, photographs, and stamps, from the personal collection of Msgr. Junie Tupas are on display at the Cathedral Museum. The items were donated to the Archdiocese of Cebu.

Dancers dressed as Spanish guards and and Filipina maidens performed the sinulog, as they made their way from the door of the museum to the cathedral across the street.

Song-writer-artist Gil Maningo sang “Panis Angelicus (Bread of the Angels)  on a small stage  before Palma and Mayor Rama switched on the countdown timer.

The IEC’s  symbol, a miniature model of the Magellan’s Cross, will be brought around to various dioceses in a nationwide piligrimage starting today.

It will be sent to Dumaguete, Siquijor, Tagbiliran, Talibon, Maasin, Leyte, Samar, Bicol, and onwards to Luzon.