- Hundreds of Vessels Join Cebu's Fluvial Procession for 460th Fiesta Señor
- Cebu Celebrates 460th Fiesta Señor with Massive Fluvial Procession
- Mactan Channel Transformed: Fluvial Procession Highlights Cebu's Fiesta Señor
Cebu City, Philippines – The Mactan Channel transformed into a vibrant spectacle of faith and tradition on Saturday as hundreds of vessels participated in the fluvial procession for the 460th Fiesta Señor celebration.
Over 355 vessels, exceeding the initial 329 registered, sailed across the channel, carrying devotees and bearing witness to the centuries-old tradition. Fr. Jules Van Almieres, media liaison officer of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, shared with GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak that the increase in participants stemmed from "humanitarian reasons," allowing more devotees to join the revered event. This year's turnout significantly surpassed the 247 vessels that joined the procession in 2024, highlighting the growing fervor surrounding the Fiesta Señor.
The procession, which commenced at 6 a.m. from the Naval Forces Central (NAVFORCEN) port in Mactan Island, carried the image of the Santo Niño back to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu City. The journey symbolizes the return of the Holy Child after a night spent in neighboring Mandaue City and Mactan Island. This fluvial procession precedes the grand Holy Procession held on the eve of the Fiesta Señor.
Beyond the procession, a series of religious and cultural events marked the celebration. A reenactment of pivotal moments in Cebu's Christian history, including the planting of the Cross, the first baptism, mass, and wedding, was held at the Santo Niño Pilgrim Center, commemorating the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines in 1521.
The festivities also included a "Penitential Walk with Mary" on Friday, where an estimated 300,000 devotees, carrying images of the Blessed Virgin and the Señor Santo Niño, joined a candlelit procession while reciting the Holy Rosary. This solemn march culminated at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño along Osmeña Boulevard.
The Fiesta Señor, a cherished tradition in Cebu, honors the Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus) and serves as a testament to the enduring faith and cultural heritage of the Filipino people.
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