Seaborne procession proceeds without hitches

Despite the cloudy skies, the seaborne procession in honor of Our Lady of the Rule went without any hitches yesterday.

Police officials also reported zero incidents in some parts of Lapu-Lapu City before and during the procession.

Even though the activity was a bit delayed, Hembler Mendoza, Lapu-Lapu City tourism officer, said the activity went without any problems.

Mendoza said the seaborne procession started around 7:25 a.m. instead of 7 a.m. as the image of the Virgin Mary had to be paraded toward the Pacific Cebu Resort in Barangay Suba-Basbas.

From there, the image was then paraded by the galleon in the coastal barangays of Maribago, Marigondon, Punta Engaño, Buaya, Ibo, Pajo before reaching Barangay Poblacion.

Upon reaching Muelle Osmeña, the image was transported to the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rule for a mass at 10:15 a.m.

Aside from the 25 vessels that accompanied the galleon carrying the image of the Virgin Mary, Mendoza said that around 60 other vessels also participated in the procession.

Marshals along the seaborne parade route had to strictly implement safety measures to ensure that the other vessels will not collide with the main galleon.

Mendoza was also relieved that the weather was fine, despite a low-pressure area looming over some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

In a separate interview, Supt. Elmer Lim, deputy director for operations of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, said the City was generally peaceful during the seaborne procession.

Lim said they fielded more than 260 personnel, including force multipliers such as barangay tanods and civilian peace and order groups during the activity. /