No. of :

No. of Shares:

Currently viewed by: Marcus Rosit

Over 800 devotees avail of Devotee City 2024

Candle vendor Mary Vidal (center) from Carcar City shares her experience during her three-day stay at the Devotee City in Pigafetta Road, Cebu City. (JSC/PIA7 Cebu)

Candle vendor Mary Vidal, 54, from Can-asujan, Carcar City has been coming to Cebu City for 15 years to pay tribute to the Señor Sto. Niño during the Sinulog Festival.

“Moari jud ko kay magpasalamat sa Señor Sto. Niño unya makabaligya sad ginagmay. (I come here every year to give thanks to the Sto. Niño and to also sell some of my candles),” said Vidal.

Every year when she joins the Sinulog, she would stay at the Devotee City to avail of the free shelter offered by the Cebu City government to devotees from out of town.

Mary Vidal, 54, from Can-asujan, Carcar City has been coming to Cebu City to pay tribute to the Señor Sto. Niño during the Sinulog Festival.

“Dako jud ug ikatabang ang Devotee City kay naa’y kapasilongan ilabi na kung moulan. (The Devotee City is a big help especially if it rains),” said Vidal.

A candle vendor for 30 years, she said she’s grateful for the security and provisions provided by the Cebu City government for devotees like her.

“Ana-a gihatag nga libreng pagkaon sa buntag, udto, ug panihapon nya naa sad tubig mainum ug para ligo unya CR sad. (We were given free food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We also have water for drinking and bathing and portalet),” she said.

Each container van at the Devotee City serves as a shelter for 20 people. 

Occupants are classified according to the local government unit they came from and their gender.

“Ako kay taga Carcar, ang tipon nako kay taga Carcar ra sad. Unya kung babaye kay babaye tanan lain sad ang sa mga lalaki. Bisan manag-asawa buwagon ug puyo. (Everyone in our van is from Carcar and we are all women. Men have their own shelter van even, while married couples have separate quarters),” Vidal recounted.

‘Tent City’

The Devotee City was initially named as “Tent City” when it first opened in 1996.

It was conceptualized by the late councilor Fe Mantua Ruiz to provide a free space for devotees from out of town who cannot afford to pay for their stay while they are in Cebu City.

For this year, the city government set up 30 container vans that can accommodate 900 devotees from January 19 to 21, 2024. 

The container vans were provided by Cokaliong Shipping Lines. 

This year, the container vans were set up in front of the Cebu Central Post Office at Pigafetta Street within Plaza Independencia beside Fort San Pedro on January 16. 

It officially opened on January 19 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

A total 821 individuals availed of the free shelter at the Devotee City this year. 

Just like in the previous years, most occupants were vendors of hats and candles.

The city government provided 24/7 security personnel, comfort rooms, free food, and water for drinking and bathing.

Devotee City Chair, Councilor Francis Esparis, said the registration was on a first come, first served basis, with priority given to pilgrims coming from far-flung areas.

They were only required to present a bus ticket or passenger shipping tickets.

The Department of Manpower Development and Placement of Cebu City facilitated the registration while the Management Information and Computer Services issued the identification cards.

House rules were also implemented like the No ID, No Entry policy.

Smoking, spitting on the ground, bringing of sharp objects or weapons, and alcoholic drinks were also prohibited inside the area.

Thirty container vans line up along Pigafetta Street in front of Cebu Central Post Office which serve as the Devotee City during the Sinulog Festival. The container vans provide temporary shelter for out-of-town pilgrims from January 19 to 21, 2024. (Photo from Cebu City News & Information FB page)
More space for devotees

Vidal hopes that in the coming years, more container vans will be added in the Devotee City as she has an influx of pilgrims who wish to avail of the free shelter. 

“Pun-an unta kay ang uban anha na lang sa cemento moligid kay puno-puno naman mi sa van. (Hopefully, there will be more container vans since some are already occupying the adjacent cemented streets just to sleep,” Vidal added.

Devotee City Chair, Councilor Francis Esparis, said that in 2023, nearly 500 individuals availed of the free space at the Devotee City. 

The Cebu City government has partnered with the different departments to ensure a safe, organized, and clean devotee city.

The city government partnered with the City Health Department, Department of Social Welfare Services, Cebu City Traffic Office, Cebu City Police Office, Cebu City Risk Reduction and Management Office, Department of Manpower and Development Office, Management Information and Computer Services, Department of Public Services, and the Cebu Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team. (MYP/PIA7 Cebu)

Devotees queueing to register at the Devotee City in Cebu City during the Sinulog Festival 2024. (Photo from Cebu City News & Information FB page)

About the Author

Myrtle Pasigan

Information Officer

Region 7


Feedback / Comment

Get in touch