Palace declares special holiday
All is set for the reenactment of first baptism and the pontifical mass commemorating the 500th Year of Christianity in Cebu City tomorrow at the Magellan’s Cross at Plaza Sugbu with no less than President Rodrigo Roa Duterte declaring it a special non-working holiday in the city.
The celebration will be in a very limited capacity even as COVID-19 cases in the city is now below a thousand based on the data from the Emergency Operations Center.
There are only 300 individuals who will be accommodated physically to attend one of the most important occasions for the 500th Year of Christianity here.
About 169 are representatives of different parishes, 75 priests and the rest are representatives from the local government units in Cebu and other invited guests.
National Historical Commission chairperson, Dr. Rene Escalante, is also expected to attend the occasion.
Earlier, Escalante gave favorable remarks to Deputy
Executive Secretary Ryan Alvin Acosta of the Office of the President on the Cebu City Council’s request for a presidential proclamation declaring April 14, 2021 as a special non-working day in the city to celebrate the arrival of Christianity in the country.
Escalante noted that the Magellan expedition landed in the island of Zubu (Cebu) on April 7, 1521 while Rajah Humabon and his people were baptized on April 14, 1521.
“In view thereof, favorable action is recommended on the request, subject to the policy on the declaration of holidays,” said Escalante in his letter to Acosta.
PROCLAMATION
Yesterday, by the authority of the President, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued Proclamation No.1130 declaring a special non-working holiday for the City of Cebu.
“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Cebu be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies, subject to community quarantine, social distancing and other public health measures,” Proclamation No.1130 read.
Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera who authored such request in a press conference yesterday also revealed that Mayor Edgardo Labella has issued a memorandum declaring a no-work day for the City Hall tomorrow.
What Garganera said also serves as an advance notice to those who plan to go to the City Hall tomorrow for whatever transactions.
“This also serves as an advance notice to those that will be doing transactions to Cebu City Hall karong umaabot nga Miyerkules, wala tay trababo sa City Hall,” added Garganera.
Everything is already in place, but organizers are asking all invited guests to just have themselves dropped off at the Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño but vehicles needed to be parked at either SM Seaside City or Robinson’s Galleria even those with car pass and parking stickers to avoid traffic jam.
“Nihangyo mi nga para di mo-clog ang traffic, and crowded ang lugar, nga unta, drop-off ta sa Basilica and park at SM Seaside or Robinsons Galleria,” said Rev. Fr. Mhar Balili, secretary-general of the 500th YOC celebration.
The rest of the Cebuanos who wanted to witness such an event may do so by viewing it live via social media.
“Magsinabtanay lang tang tanan nga dili ta makaaccommodate sa tanan. Pero even dili ta mkaanha physically, naa tay live sa socmed,” said Fr. Balili.