“Day of Mourning”
UP TO 20T EXPECTED TO ATTEND VIDAL BURIAL
Cebu City has declared October 26, the day of the burial of the late Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, as “A Day of Mourning”.
In a resolution passed during its regular session, the City Council said, “In his service to the people of Cebu, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal has become a symbol of peace and unity — an icon of virtue worthy of emulation.”
Malacañang has already declared a holiday in Cebu province tomorrow. The declaration also covers Cebu City, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu.
Councilor Raymond Garcia said the declarations are fitting for a person who has affected people’s lives greatly.
Vidal will be buried tomorrow morning at the mausoleum adjacent to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral following a procession, which will start at 9 a.m.
The procession will kick off at P. Burgos Street in front of the Cathedral, turn right to Osmeña Boulevard, turn right to D. Jakosalem Street, and turn right to P. Gomez Street back to the Cathedral.
BUSES
On Thursday, the city and provincial governments will deploy at least 20 buses so those who will attend the burial will have free transportation.
The city will deploy 10 Kaohsiung buses while the province will deploy 10 Ceres buses.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 has given special permits to Vallacar Transit, which owns and operates Ceres Bus Liner.
"So far, ang Ceres Bus pa ang ni-volunteer. I am urging other bus companies to volunteer," said LTFRB-7 Director Ahmed Cuizon.
Councilor David Tumulak said the church and the city government expect that the burial will draw up to 20,000 people.
Tumulak asked those attending to take advantage of the buses and leave their private vehicles at home to decongest traffic.
“We are urging the public nga dili nalang unta magdala og private cars para dili sila maglisod og pangita og parking area kay naa man tay buses nga i-deploy,” he said.
Those who will ride the buses are advised to hit the streets as early as 7 a.m.
The buses will service eight routes:
Route 1 - Bulacao, Pardo, Basak Pardo, Basak San Nicolas, Kinasang-an, Quiot, Mambaling will pass thru SRP to Malacañang sa Sugbo.
Route 2 - Labangon, Tisa, Punta Princesa, N. Bacalso, Junquera, colon, D. Jakosalem
Route 3 - San Nicolas Parish (Duljo, Suba, Pasil, Sawang) Magallanes, Boromeo
Route 4 - Inayawan, Cogon, Tagunol, SRP, Malacañang
Route 5 - Lahug, Apas, Gorordo, Gen. Maxillom, New Imus Rd, MJ Cuenco, Plaza Independencia, Legaspi Ext, S. Osmeña
Route 6 - Mabolo, Hipodromo, MJ Cuenco to Plaza Independencia
Route 7 - Talamban, Banilad, Bo. Luz, Gorordo, Gen Maxillom, MJ Cuenco, Plaza Independencia, S. Osmeña
Route 8 - Guadalupe, V. Rama, N. Bacalso, Junquera, Colon, Jakosalem, Sanciangko.
SECURITY
Roads surrounding the Cathedral will be closed during the burial and for the procession.
Police Supt. David Señor, chief of operations of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), urged those attending the burial to be mindful of unscrupulous individuals who will take advantage of the big crowds like pickpockets.
“Kanang huot-huot sa kalsada, basin naa magpahimos. Mao na ang bantayan,” Señor said.
Señor is the overall supervisor for the burial procession.
WEATHER
While those attending the funeral are discouraged from bringing big bags, they are advised to bring umbrellas as rain my pour anytime tomorrow.
Engr. Alfredo Quiblat, Jr. of PAGASA-Cebu said there is a chance of rainfall tomorrow as an Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is seen oscillating over the country’s archipelago.
“We advised the public to make sure to bring their umbrellas or raincoats, or any object that would prevent them from getting wet,” he said.
As of yesterday, the ITCZ was seen affecting sections in the Visayas and southern Luzon.
PAGASA defines an ITCZ as a series of low pressure areas brought about by converging northeast and southeast winds that cause thunderstorms and rain showers.
Moreover, Quiblat said a tropical cyclone (locally known as “bagyo”) is also expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility and its trough or extension may cause to disrupt Cebu’s weather conditions.
The tropical depression was spotted Tuesday dawn 2,145 kilometers east of Mindanao, still outside PAR – the imaginary boundary enclosing the country.
These weather disturbances, Quiblat said, may bring isolated rains and thunderstorms while causing gloomy skies.