Duterte to skip ‘strictest’ Sinulog

President Rodrigo Duterte has begged off from joining the “strictest” Sinulog Festival. However, newlyinstalled Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Italian Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia will be in town for the celebration.

Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino said yesterday that the president has previous commitments that he needs to attend to.

Aside from Duterte, Vice President Leni Robredo was likewise invited by the Cebu City government to attend the grandest festival in the country.

Gabriel Cruz, liason officer of Robredo in Cebu, said that the invitation was already received by the vice president.

"But I still have to ask for confirmation kung pupunta ba siya. Kasi biglaan yung invitation. Hopefully, despite of her busy schedule, she can still come," said Cruz.

The local Augustinian community was elated after receiving a message that the papal ambassador here in the country is expected to join the local faithful and clergy in celebrating this year’s Fiesta Señor in Cebu, the home of the highly-revered image — Santo Niño.

Father Ric Anthony Reyes of the Order of St. Augustine (OSA) revealed to The FREEMAN that Caccia is reported to visit Cebu in time for the feast that honors the Holy Child Jesus.

Pope Francis appointed Caccia last year to replace Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto.

He said on a typical setting, it is the archbishop being the highest-ranking Church official in Cebu that commonly takes over significant liturgical celebrations.

He said an apostolic nuncio is not just any ordinary prelate as he is appointed by Pope Francis and so for the Augustinian fathers, “it is a grace and an opportunity” for him to visit Cebu and grace the religious activities.

“If he is indeed coming, we are very much blessed here in Cebu,” Father Reyes said.

With the executive order banning entertainment and liquor, the Cebu City government and the Sinulog Foundation Inc. assured this would be the “strictest” Sinulog celebration.

This is to ensure that the religious side of the Fiesta Señor will be highlighted over the parties and other entertainment factors of the celebration.

“This will be the strictest Sinulog ever because there’s a risk,” Mayor Tomas Osmeña said, adding that this year’s Sinulog will focus on the solemn celebration.

Osmeña, who said he will be on red alert during the Grand Parade, made a bold reminder to anyone drinking, holding or selling liquor within the 300-meter radius along the Sinulog route to be detained in the mobile jails.

Life Dance, a known dance music festival in the country, was not given a permit to hold the event to be held supposedly at the South Road Properties.

“One foreseen possibility with such large event is that they’ll be parking all over the place. The party is also conducive to using drugs and volunteers by that time will be too exhausted and cannot respond to any emergencies anymore,” Osmeña said.

According to Osmeña the city approved the permit of the Plus 63 event to be held at the Cebu Business Park since the organizers were able to provide security contingency measures and will provide their own security during the event.

Tumulak said there would be a safety zone in Mango Square on January 21 wherein a detention bus will be deployed with police personnel and other law enforcers.

“Several companies are using Sinulog for marketing purposes. This year, we want the millennial to experience the old celebration of Sinulog which is really focused on the Fiesta Señor and not on the parties, concerts, and other events,” he said.

As the Novena Masses are about to start on the 11th, the city will launch ‘Kalingawan sa Fiesta’ at the Plaza Independencia that will showcase both the historical and spiritual highlights of the city.

It is a barrio fiestathemed event where local foods and agricultural products will be displayed.

Devotees City located at the vicinity of Compania Maritima will also be opened starting on January 19 until 21 to accommodate the outof-town devotees who have no place to stay in the city. Devotees are required to present their transportation ticket in order to be housed in the Devotee city.