Amid the fully virtual celebration of this year’s Fiesta Señor, the opening salvo kicks off on Friday dawn, January 7, 2022.

This is the 457th celebration of the Feast of the Holy Child, with the theme: “Santo Niño: Our Source of Communion, Life for Mission.”

With the limited activities of this year’s feast, the celebration was opened by a mobile procession, parading the Holy image of Señor Santo Niño in the major streets of Cebu, as an alternative of the yearly penitential “Walk with Jesus.”

This year’s mobile procession was accompanied by limited vehicles to join the convoy to commemorate the opening of the celebration.

The motorcade began at the hollow grounds of the Basilica, traversing through Mj Cuenco and Imus Avenue, to General Maxilom Avenue and Sotto Drive, passing through Juana Osmeña Street, back to General Maxilom, Fuente Osmeña and finally back to the Basilica to return to its altar for veneration.

Aside from being fully virtual, this year’s procession holds historical significance, as it passed through Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish- Redemptorist which housed the Original image of Señor Sto. Niño during the World War II.

For Catholic Faithfuls, this holds a powerful symbolism: A Child Jesus taking refuge in His mother’s home.

A virtual Eucharistic Mass followed shortly after the procession, concelebrated by the Augustinian friars.

The mass was presided by Rev. Fr. Nelson G. Zerda, OSA, BMSN Rector.

He commenced his homily by empathizing with humanity, encouraging them to remain sturdy and have powerful faith amid the destruction of the Typhoon Odette and the continued threats of the CoViD 19.

“God is listening to our cries and He comes to heal us. The healing is not physical, it is also emotional, social and spiritual. God is the source of communion.”

Fr. Zerda also expressed in his homily, how the Holy Child is the ‘Bato Balani sa Gugma’ (magnet of love), for He is attracted to our prayers and petitions and He is the source of our communion.

The annual tradition of the installation of Hermano and Hemana Mayores followed right after the homily.

The ceremonial installation include the giving of certificates and medallions, turning over of bastons, and the blessing of the newly installed Hermano and Hermana Mayores, which signify the transfer of authority from the former to the latter.

This year’s Hermano and Hermana Mayor is Mr. Reynaldo Labrado and Mrs. Ginalyn Labrado.

A plaque of appreciation was also given to the former Hermano and Hermana Mayores as an acknowledgement of the performance of the responsibility of the propagation of devotion of Señor Sto. Niño.

The opening salvo was concluded with a traditional Sinulog dance, officially marking the start of the Fiesta Señor 2022. / Melissa Arbuis and Airen Ledesma, CNU Sudent Volunteers