ILOILO CITY (PIA) – Thousands of Ilonggo devotees get ready to join the Santo Niño fluvial procession and foot parade on January 24, 2025 to show their strong faith and devotion as the city celebrates the Dinagyang Festival.
Rev. Fr. Nelson G. Zerda, parish priest of San José Placer Parish, during a press conference on Jan. 20, said there will be a Traslacion on Jan. 23 to take the image of Sto. Niño to the Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Lapuz district and stay overnight until the day of fluvial procession.
Zerda added that 10 fiber boats will be deployed for the devotees joining the fluvial procession.
He also said that while one fiber boat has a capacity of 80 to 90 passengers, each vessel will only be allowed a 50-percent occupancy to ensure the safety of the public.
Also, the organizers discourage children, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and senior citizens to join the fluvial procession to avoid health emergencies.
The route of the fluvial procession, which will be led by a vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) carrying the image of Santo Niño de Cebu, will start from the Bacolod wharf in Lapuz district, passing along the Guimaras Strait leading to the Iloilo River, and ending at the dock along the Muelle Loney Street, where the devotees disembark to start the foot parade.
On the other hand, the solemn foot procession will start from Muelle Loney Street and will pass through the streets of Montinola, Iznart, JM Basa and Zamora, leading to the San Jose Church in front of Plaza Libertad for the Mass and blessing of the Santo Niño images and devotees.
The fluvial procession serves as a reenactment of the arrival of the Santo Niño image in Cebu, while the solemn foot parade is a penitential procession to petition for the success of the religious activities, especially celebration of the Feast of the Holy Child.
Aside from the fluvial and foot procession, the Grand Religious Sadsad slated on Jan 25, is also expected to gather a huge crowd as Ilonggos continue to show their devotion to Senior Sto. Niño.
“Sadsad” is a form of religious devotion where devotees dance, while carrying images of Sto. Niño and pray as they offer their intentions or ask for the Holy Child Jesus’ miracles. Countless devotees have testified about their experiences of Jesus’ miraculous acts after participating in the event. (AAL/JNH/PIA Iloilo)
