Devotees welcome ‘Holy Mother’ and ‘Child’ in Mandaue

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1022219
• Friday, January 19, 2018

By Luel Galarpe (With Michelle Bugtai/PNA)

CEBU CITY -- Over 13,000 Marian devotees braved the early morning rain Friday to join the Penitential “Walk with Mary” procession from the Our Lady of Guadalupe church to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño for the annual “Traslacion” here.

The procession started around 4 a.m. and when the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe arrived at the Basilica over an hour later, the crowd was estimated to have reached 90,000 as more and more devotees came pouring in despite the drizzle.

After the 9th novena mass at the Basilica around 7 a.m., both the images of the Holy Mother and Child were transferred to the National Shrine of St. Joseph the Patriarch in Mandaue City for the second leg of the Traslacion.

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Deputy Director for Administration Superintendent Artemio Ricabo said not a single untoward incident was reported during the two Traslacions.

Ricabo said the procession and motorcade also went smoothly and peacefully as Cebu and Mandaue City devotees heeded their call not to light firecrackers or play loud Sinulog music to welcome the Sto. Niño and the Virgin Mary in their area along the route.

However, some devotees expressed their disappointment as the route for the Traslacion motorcade was diverted and their preparations for the passing of the two images went for naught.

At around 8:30 a.m., Mandaue City officials led by Mayor Luigi Quisumbing welcomed the Holy Mother and Child at the border of the two cities on A.S. Fortuna St.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who joined the Traslacion for the first time, got out of his vehicle and exchanged pleasantries with Quisumbing before the resumption of the motorcade.

An estimated crowd of 8,000 devotees welcomed the Sto. Niño and the Virgin of Guadalupe at the Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue, where the two images will stay for the night.

The Holy Mother and Child will be brought to Lapu-Lapu City early Saturday morning before the traditional fluvial procession, which will be joined by at least 50 vessels.