Fluvial parade starts Virgin of the Rule fiesta

Hundreds of devotees meet the image of the Virgin of the Rule after the morning fluvial procession at the Mactan Channel. (CDN PHOTO/

The celebration of the Virgin of the Rule fiesta in Lapu-Lapu City started yesterday with a Novena Mass, motorcade and fluvial parade.

Hundreds of devotees followed the  image of Lapu-Lapu’s patron down the Mactan Channel on board colorfully decorated boats.

The Novena Mass at 5:30 a.m. at Marigondon Parish was officiated by Fr. Jaime Duero, the parish priest. The image of the Blessed Virgin Mary was then brought on a motorcade to Pacific Cebu Resort where a yacht was waiting to carry the image  on sea.

Around 50 decorated sea vessels consisting of motor boats, ferry boats, speed boats with para-sails and jet skis, followed the yacht  to  Mangal point, the tip of  barangay Punta Engaño before turning and crossing the Mactan channel to the Muelle Osmeña wharf.

Flowers were dropped from thet sky by para-sail boats.

Some of the devotees waited on the shores of Lapu-Lapu City and  Mandaue City to witness the fluvial procession.

Some lit firecrackers after the yacht that carried the image passed by.

Flower petals were dropped from the two Mactan-Mandaue  bridges as the yacht sailed below.

The Philippine Coast Guard closed the Mactan Channel to regular sea vessel traffic from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. for the activity.

At the  Muelle Osmeña wharf, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza and Vice Mayor Macial Ycong led city officials in carrying the wooden platform with the  Virgin of the Rule a few meters to the Church.

Daily Novena Masses will be held at the Virgin of the Rule parish church until the feast day on Friday, Nov. 21.