By Luel Galarpe/PNA
CEBU CITY — The Señor Sto. Niño and Virgin of Guadalupe fluvial procession from Lapu-Lapu City to Cebu City early Saturday morning went smoothly and peacefully.
Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu Station (PCG-Cebu) spokesperson, Lt. Junior Grade Michael Encina, in an interview, said the fluvial procession finished earlier than expected and was a complete success.
Encina said no untoward incident happened during the seaborne procession, except for two accidents where two men fell into the sea.
Reports reaching the PCG-Cebu said a man accidentally fell at Pier 4 while waiting for the images of the Holy Mother and Child to pass by the area, while another male devotee lost his balance and fell from a tugboat in the middle of the procession.
The two individuals, who were not identified in the reports, were rescued by PCG personnel and disaster team volunteers.
Senior Supt. Royina Garma, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director, said the foot procession from Pier 1 to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño following the fluvial parade was also peaceful.
Garma said no untoward incident was reported until the Holy Mass at the basilica was over.
She said an estimated 130,000 devotees welcomed the Sto. Niño and Virgin of Guadalupe at the Port of Cebu and attended the mass at the basilica.
At 3 a.m. Saturday, the images of the Holy Mother and Child were brought to the Nuestra Señora de Regla National Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City from the National Shrine of St. Joseph the Patriarch in Mandaue City, where the Sto. Niño and Virgin of Guadalupe stayed on Friday night.
After the 4 a.m. mass at the Señora de Regla Church in Lapu-Lapu, the fluvial procession of the two images followed, bringing the Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe back to Cebu City.
