SINULOG

[SamuraiArcher]

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tag 300 pesos..adto mo sa abellana palit...

[nab_uang]

10 Japanese ASEAN delegates stay to witness Sinulog festival
The Freeman 01/20/2007

Following serious business in the recently concluded Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, 10 consuls from Japan have decided to remain in Cebu to witness the Sinulog festivities particularly the much-awaited Mardi Gras tomorrow, January 21.

Cebu City Information officer Nagiel Banacia yesterday said the 10 consuls would definitely be given VIP seats at the grandstand of the Cebu City Sports Complex. However, their accommodation and security would be taken cared of by the Japan consular office here.

Banacia assured security at the sports complex would be very strict to ensure the safety of the dignitaries.

The 10 consuls are among those that composed the official Japanese delegation headed by Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Japan is ASEAN's dialogue partner and participated in the East Asia Summit at the last day of the event.

ASEAN's other dialogue partners include Australia, India, New Zealand, China and Korea.

Aside from the diplomats, Banacia said there are also foreign journalists who covered the summit and opted to remain here in Cebu to witness the Sinulog. However, the foreign journalists reportedly would not want their identities made public.

Even before it resumed preparations for this year's Sinulog, Cebu City has spent substantial time with its preparations for the summit. The city government was in charge of the foreign media that covered the event.

The city also participated in the spouses program intended to allow the wives of the heads of states to go around Cebu City and neighboring cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

The ASEAN Summit resumed last week following a controversial postponement last month. The event was originally scheduled on December 10, 2006 but organizers decided to move it owing to typhoon Seniang that was scheduled to hit Cebu the same day the heads of states were to arrive in Cebu. - Joeberth M. Ocao

[nab_uang]

700T walk for Niño
Sun.Star Staff Reporter


LOVE unconditionally. Vote critically.

These were the messages highlighted in two activities yesterday that demonstrated the religious side of the feast of the Sto. Niño de Cebu.

“Makapili kita ug maayo nga kandidato kon dili kita mapalit ug sapi (We can pick the right candidates if we do not sell our votes),� said Rev. John Du, in his homily during the pontifical mass that started at 5:40 p.m. in the Basilica del Sto. Niño.

With elections looming less than four months away, Du urged churchgoers to remember that politics reflects each Filipino’s personal integrity, or lack of it.

“Kon nanginabuhi ka nga ngil-ad ug batasan, dili ka usab makapili ug maayong kandidato, kanang kandidato nga matinud-anon, adunay dignidad ug klaro ang programa (He who lives in an ungodly fashion cannot be expected to choose the right candidate, the candidate who is sincere, dignified and visionary),� he said.

The church, he added, has a responsibility to guide its people to be cautious in exercising their right to vote.

Du delivered his homily at the end of a procession that saw about 700,000 people, according to police estimates, fill some central streets in Cebu City.

A shorter route than last year’s meant that the procession ended earlier than usual, before nightfall, but it was no less well-attended.

The procession began at 2 p.m. when Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal escorted the image of the Child Jesus replica out from the Basilica compound.

When they caught sight of the icon, devotees in the Pilgrim Center and those lined up along Osmena Blvd. for the procession waved their hands and chanted, “Pit Senyor!�

Confetti and balloons marked the passage of the carroza that carried the image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu, a replica of the statuette that a Spanish fleet first brought to Cebu over four centuries ago.

By the end of the procession at 6 p.m., about 80,000 people filled the Basilica to hear mass. Thousands more stayed on the streets.

At least four people later reported to the Waterfront Police Station that pickpockets preyed on them while they were visiting the church, said precinct chief Pedrillo Villamor, the procession’s designated ground commander.

One of the victims, Cristina Bas, 35, of Talisay City, said she lost her wallet with P10,000 inside. She only learned about it when she went to a nearby department store after attending mass.

No serious cases required the attention of four first aid stations at the basilica, though there were some complaints of high blood pressure.

Earlier in the day, Msgr. Cris Garcia asked thousands of devotees, who also gathered at the Basilica del Sto. Niño, to be like the Child Jesus who loves His people with no conditions.

In his homily, Garcia said the first mass with the reenactment of the baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon is not just a time to recall the conversion of the natives to Christianity, but also a time to remember our own baptism.

Men and women of all ages welcomed the images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Sto. Niño at the Pilgrim Center in front of the basilica.

The faithful applauded the symbolic planting of the cross.

They waved their hands when the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was brought in.

Following the Lady’s image were Rajah Humabon and Reyna Humahay, who were later baptized as Carlos and Juana, after the Spanish king and queen at that time.

Devotees shed tears when the image of Senor Sto. Niño was brought in. Holy water was sprinkled on the devotees as a sign of renewed baptismal vows.

Before the mass ended, the images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Sto. Niño were carried around the center so devotees, who waved throughout the presentation, could have a good look at them.

[jare73]

Bleachers are visible around the sinulog route, are any of these for public use? Hope the city has provided one, aside from the abellana grand stand! And if theres one, how much would it cost you to have a nice view of the parade! Well, some people enjoyed more while just moving around the route especially at the mango ave are!Just watch your pockets though or you will have your face painted!Viva Pit senior!

[anya]

sa fluvial ba i'm one of the spanish guard na mo alsa ni sto. niño...swerte kaayo sa...my 4th year already to carry him.

really? my bf is one of the spanish guards too...

[digitalsuperman]

FITS IN UR!!!

[--Makoy--]

lingaw ko sinulog ganina.. though kapoy sige lakaw lakaw, worth it kaayo. nindot kay di kaayo daghan tao compared to the previous years

[edgeknife]

lingaw sab ko. i was with my friends. though ni-uli ko og sayu kay work pa man ko ugma.

[odods77]

kinsay naka winner sa sinulog ganina? taga asa?

[virus1218]

really? my bf is one of the spanish guards too...

sa sto. niño ko alsa...siya asa man?