AFTER 42 days of going around Lapu-Lapu City’s barangays, the replica of Nuestra Señora de Regla (Virgin of the Rule) was returned to her sanctuary.

Her return to Barangay Marigondon was the last stop of the two-hour fluvial procession that hugged the city’s eastern coast.

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From the altar of the Our Lady of Sacred Heart Parish, the replica was placed in a glass case and paraded around the three-kilometer route to the causeway of Pacific Cebu Resort. There, a yacht bedecked with flowers and over a hundred motorboats, jet skis and a Coast Guard vessel that served as head of the parade waited.

Residents waving blue and white flags lined the parade route, while fireworks and sirens from two motorcycle escorts of the City Traffic Management System broke the early morning stillness of Barangay Suba-Basbas.

The mass officiated by Rev. Fr. Cirilo Arister sent off the Holy Virgin from Marigondon to the fluvial procession that started at 7:55 a.m. and ended at 9:55 a.m. at the Muelle Osmeña Wharf in Barangay Poblacion.

“Although we have a (bigger) number of participants than in previous years, we were able to make it on schedule and in a very coordinated manner by the different religious groups, city officials and peace and order volunteers and policemen,” said City Councilor Damian Gomez, who is also tourism commission chairman.

Rudy Villanobos, tourism commissioner, said that over a hundred motorboat and jet skis joined the fluvial procession with a search-and-rescue boat of the CG leading them.

Paramedics of the Philippine National Red Cross were accommodated in the City’s sea ambulance.

Unlike in the past, there were no military choppers hovering above this year’s parade to drop confetti. Instead, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) arranged for a Cessna plane to do the job. Apparently, all the available PAF aircraft are still in Luzon, helping out typhoon victims.

Patron

Vice Mayor Mario Amores, City Councilors Florito Pozon, Eduardo Cuizon Rody Potot carried the “andas” with the help of First Lady Paz Radaza and Association of Barangay Councils president Leo Mercado after this was taken out of the yacht. The march from Muelle Osmeña to the National Shrine of the Virgin of the Rule was less 100 meters.

The tourism commission had a budget of P109,550 for this year’s fluvial procession. The amount included prizes for the most decorated pump boat competition, which had two categories: one for private companies and the other for barangays.

Barangay Looc took home first prize (P7,000) in the barangay category, followed by Mactan (5,000) and Poblacion (3,000).

Hilton (P7,000) bagged the first prize for the private category, followed by Plantation Bay (P5,000) and Boyla Hotel (P3,000).

Ida Rago, chairperson of Mother Butler Mission Guild Lapu-Lapu chapter, said the tourism commission came up with the concept of the patronal visit. This was implemented in 2001 with the consent of Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.