Balikbayans arrive in droves to give thanks to the Holy Child

Karl Aro (center) and Australian wife Annie (left) arrive at the Mactan Cebu International Airport with their four children to join the Sinulog festival.(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

Many Cebuanos living abroad make it a point to come home for the Sinulog in January to renew ties with family and their personal faith.

At 10:15 a.m. yesterday, drums started rolling to the Sinulog beat to welcome a batch of balikbayans who flew in to Mactan on a Philippine Airlines connecting flight from the West Coast.

Among them was 73-year-old Maria Louise Alo and her husband Edgar, 73 from California.

Edgar hails from barangay Labangon in Cebu City.

“This is our second time coming here since the other year. This visit will be about thanksgiving and also meeting his batchmates in CIT (Cebu Institute of Technology) whom he hadn’t seen for 15 years,” Mrs. Alo said.

The couple said they were also willing to donate money to help build “bahay kubo” homes for storm-hit families in north Cebu under the BalikBalay campaign which is set to be launched tonight at the Ayala Terraces.

US tour operators like Milagros Pacaña who arrange trips for the Sinulog every year were asked to spread word about the post-Yolanda typhoon shelter program of the Balik Cebu Committee.

Gemma Mayol from Mandaue City who comes home every year for the feast of the Sto. Niño, said she was willing to support the initiative.

“Yes why not. This is the first time I’ve heard of that but I’m willing to give my support,” Mayol told Cebu Daily News.

Donato Quebral, 75, from Las Vegas who arrived on board flight PR849 said he, some relatives and friends are attending the Fiesta Señor in honor of the Holy Child.

“This is a religious activity and we want to be part of it. The campaign (Balik Balay) is a good thing,” Quebral said.

A second flight of 222 passengers on Cathay Pacific flight CX921 arrived an hour later.There were more foreign travelers than balikbayans in the mixed flight.

The whole family of 36-year-old Karl Aro with his Australian wife, Annie, and four children aged eight, six, four and two, are in for a new experience.

“I’m from Naga, Cebu and this is the first time we came back with the kids. We were here five years ago and they are quite excited,” Annie said.

The eldest child Asha, 8, said she wanted to mix with the crowd.

“I like seeing people dancing in the streets and their pretty faces,” she said.

The family did not sign up for the Balik Cebu program but said that they are here to enjoy the Sinulog, visit relatives, and introduce their children to the devotion of the Sto. Niño.

“There is more to be thankful for after what happened last year. We are thankful that our families here were not affected (by the calamities). This will be a more meaningful Sinulog,” Aro said.

May Dudovitch and her Canadian husband Jason brought along their 2-year-old son, Felix.

“We’re staying at Shangri-la Resort but we’ll be going to the city to witness the Sinulog. This is our first time to be here in time for the Sinulog,” she said.

Balik Cebu Committee member Alice Queblatin, said they expect close to 500 balikbayans in Cebu for the Sinulog.

“That’s based on the organized trips through the tour and travel agencies. Many have been arriving for the past week and many more coming until Friday,” she said.

“Hopefully we’ll get more donation pledges during the welcome dinner(tonight),” she said.

Rowena Montecilla, Department of Tourism regional director, said she was happy with the turnout despite the recent calamities.

“I think it’s really in us Filipinos. We love to extend help especially after what happened with the earthquake and the typhoon. Filipinos always want to help and Sinulog being a religious event strengthened that interest to help,” Montecillo said.