Registration on for fluvial procession of Sto. Niño

Boat owners have until Friday to sign up for kaplag activity

The registration for the fluvial procession of the Sto. Niño de Cebu on April 27 has begun.

Rodolfo Villajuan, head of the Philippine Coast Guard Cebu Station, said ship owners and boat operators who want to join in next week’s sea procession have until Friday to register before their office.

“We’re now accepting registration for the fluvial procession. Interested parties just have to visit the Coast Guard office,” he told Cebu Daily News over a phone interview yesterday.

Villajuan said those who want to register are also required to submit a certificate of seaworthiness from the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).

The fluvial procession is part of the activities of the 450th anniversary of the Kaplag or the recovery of the image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu in 1565.

A replica of the original image of the child Jesus will be transported in a motorcade from Cebu City to the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City on Sunday, April 26.

There will be an overnight vigil at the shrine before the 4 a.m. send off Mass to be presided over by Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA, rector of the Basilica del Sto. Niño.

After the Eucharistic celebration, the image of the Sto. Niño will be brought to the Ouano Wharf for the fluvial procession which is set to begin at 6 a.m.

Villajuan said the same vessel used during the sea procession for the feast of the Sto. Niño every January will be utilized during next week’s fluvial procession. The vessel, MV Señor Sto. Niño, is owned by the family of the late Ernesto Ouano.

Villajuan said no politicians or elected government officials are allowed to board the “galleon.”

He said allowed inside the galleon are Augustinian priests, the Hermano and Hermana Mayores, men dressed as Spanish-soldiers, and Coast Guard personnel.

The assembly time for those who will join in the sea procession will be at 5 a.m. on Monday, within the vicinity of the Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City.

The image of the Sto. Niño will sail down the Mactan Channel on board the “galleon.” It is expected to arrive at Pier 1 in Cebu City not later than 8 a.m. A foot procession from Pier 1 will bring the image back to the Basilica del Sto. Niño.

Fr. Eusebio Berdon, ISAD, prior provincial of the Augustinian Province of the Sto. Niño de Cebu, will preside over a Mass at the basilica’s pilgrim center upon the arrival of the image.

The grand reenactment of the arrival of the image and its finding will take place at 3 p.m. on April 27. On the same day, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle will officiate the last novena Mass at the pilgrim center.

On April 28 this year, Cebuanos will celebrate the 450th anniversary since the finding of the image of the Sto. Niño. /Xavier University intern Ana Liza Banaynal