Lapu-Lapu biz owners told to decorate for Sto. Niño’s visit

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza has urged business owners to decorate their respective establishments in honor of the miraculous child Señor Santo Niño.

“Atoa i-encourage ang mga business owners duol sa area nga mag-decorate sila or magbutang og tarpaulin or imahe ni Sto. Niño sa gawas sa ilahang business establishments,” the mayor said.

The images of Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe will visit Virgen De Regla National Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City on Saturday dawn, Jan. 20, after the traslacion, the annual visit of the Holy Child and the Our Lady of Guadalupe to the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City on the 19th.

A sendoff Mass at St. Joseph Shrine is set at 2 a.m. Saturday to transport the pilgrim images through a motorcade to Virgen de Regla Shrine where the faithful can venerate these images.

The Augustinian friars agreed to extend the visit of the images to other cities like Lapu-Lapu to respond to the clamor of parishes who have been lobbying for it for years now.

The Lapu-Lapu City government and the local church have been preparing for the two major religious activities for the Fiesta Señor 2018 — the traslacion and the fluvial procession, which will follow shortly after the Virgen de Regla visit.

Those who wish to attend the 3 a.m. Mass at the Virgen de Regla Shrine after the motorcade are advised to enter at the back of the church near Muelle Osmeña (B.M. Dimataga Street) since the entourage of the holy icon will enter at the main entrance.

Fr. Bernard Corpuz, parish priest of the Our Lady of Rule, lobbied this route to avoid possible conflict or chaos and to maintain smooth public veneration.

The church can accommodate up to 1,500 parishioners.

Others can stay at the city auditorium or Plaza Rizal where wide screens will be installed.

Another wide screen will also be set up outside the church along the B.M. Dimataga Street.

The city government is set to conduct a dry run at 3 a.m. on January 16.

M. Tudtud/KBQ