DESPITE the intermittent rains that Cebu City experienced Saturday afternoon, thousands of Catholic faithful showed their deep devotion as they joined the solemn procession in honor of Señor Santo Niño, the Child Jesus.
The procession started at 1 p.m. Saturday, January 20, from Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.
Cebu City Director Senior Superintendent Julian Entoma said that as of the 2:50 p.m., an estimated 500,000 devotees joined the procession.
The carroza of Sr. Sto. Niño passed through Osmena Boulevard, Gen. Maxilom Avenue, and MJ Cuenco Avenue before it returned to Santo Niño Church past 5 p.m.
For security reasons, Globe Telecom and Smart Communications have shut down cellphone signals in Cebu City during the procession.
Entoma earlier said the police requested from the National Telecommunications Commission a complete signal shutdown in Cebu City, particularly on the solemn procession route today (January 20) from 12 noon until 8 p.m., and tomorrow (January 21) from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Aside from signal shutdowns, rain also marred last year's Fiesta Senor but it failed to dampen Cebuanos' devotion to the Child Jesus. (DDA/VoxPop Cebu)