The Sinulog grand parade is a spectacle for tourists and locals and devotees should just stay home and let visitors enjoy it, a historian said in a forum tracing the roots of Sinulog yesterday.
It is not authentic but a commercial celebration designed for outsiders, said Dr. Jose Eleazar Bersales, an anthropologist at the University of San Carlos, during the forum “Retracing Sinulog: A forum on the precolonial roots of the Sinulog dance” at the Palm Grass Hotel in Cebu City.
The baptism of Cebuanos led by Rajah Humabon will be the focus of
the Archdiocese of Cebu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP) in their celebration of the 500th year of the Christianization of the
Philippines
On December 1, 2019, the church will start a 500-day countdown to
April 14, 2021, the 500th anniversary of the first baptism in the Philippines. On
that day in 1521, 800 Cebuanos under Humabon were baptized by members of the Spanish
armada led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
On April 14, 2021, 500 children with special needs will be baptized
as part of the reenactment of that first baptism.
Jubilee Cross sendoff
Also on December 1, church officials will send off the Jubilee
Cross, a replica of Magellan’s cross made of tindalo wood that will have in it
a relic of the True Cross. The Jubilee Cross will visit the different parishes
in Cebu and the rest of the Philippines.
The activities were announced earlier today by church officials led
by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and CBCP President and Davao Archbishop Romulo
Valles during a press conference in the Executive Lounge of Oakridge Business Park
in Mandaue City.
2021 EVENTS. Officials announce the official activities for the 500th anniversary of the Christianization in the Philippines. Present during the press conference in Oakridge Business Park are (from left) Fr. Mhar Vincent Balili; Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, who is also the CBCP president; Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, designer Kenneth Cobonpue, who heads the Visayas Quincentennial Committee; and Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones.
Fr. Mhar Vincent Balili said the 2021 celebration has three pillars
around which events are organized – celebration, formation, and legacy. He said
the 2021 celebration has many highlights – including the arrival of the Sto.
Nino, for which the Augustinian community started a countdown today. He said
the archdiocese chose to focus on the baptism because “it is when our faith was
planted in our hearts.”
Open Holy Door
Fr. Balili said they requested Pope Francis for permission to open
the Holy Door for plenary indulgence and extend this to the 9 oldest churches
in Cebu. Archbishop Palma will also celebrate the Misa de Gallo in 2020 in
these 9 oldest churches, which include Bantayan, Argao, Barili, Boljoon,
Carcar, San Nicolas, among others.
Key events leading to 2021 including the holding of monthly jubilees
involving church organizations, ministries, and sectors of society. The
jubilees are pegged on feast days of saints.
Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones highlighted the importance
of the events saying 2021 is unrepeatable, irreplaceable and irrevocable. He
said it is a “once in a lifetime event.”
“If Bethlehem is point x of our salvation history, in the
Philippines, Cebu – the cradle of Christianity – is the point x where faith
spread,” he said.
HERITAGE WALK. Designer Kenneth Cobonpue, head of the Visayas Quincentennial Committee, discusses the heritage walk the Cebu City Government and various stakeholders want to put up in time for the celebration.
Mission congress
Part of the preparation for the year-long celebration leading to the
quincentennial is the holding of mission congresses in the different parishes
from August to October 2020. The Archdiocesan Mission Congress will be held on
October 24, 2020. This will culminate with the sendoff of 500 missionaries
outside extra during the National Mission Congress on April 12-16, 2021.
On April 11 to 18, 2021, organizers will stage an Amorsolo Painting
Exhibit. One of Fernando Amorsolo’s most important paintings is “The First
Baptism in the Philippines.”
Triduum celebrations will also be held three days before the baptism
anniversary. Preceding it is the arrival of the Jubilee Cross scheduled on
April 10, 2021. The first day of Triduum on April 11 will be held at the
Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The second day will be at the
National Shrine of St. Joseph while the last day will be at the Sto. Niño
Pilgrim Center. The Triduum will end with a procession around Cebu City.
First recorded Easter Mass
Valles said the church will mark the first recorded Easter Mass with
a national celebration of masses. The Mojares panel is still looking into the
question on where the first mass in the Philippines was held. Two previous
panels have ruled in favor of Limasawa against the other claimant Butuan.
During today’s press conference, renowned designer Kenneth Cobonpue,
who is head of the Visayas Quincentennial Committee, unveiled the planned
downtown heritage walk that would take people to historical buildings and
locations, including churches, in Cebu City. (See separate story).
Valles said the CBCP will send an invitation to Vatican for Pope
Francis but they said they are aware of how tight his schedule is. He said it
is likely that a papal legate will attend the events for the Vatican. He said
they will also be sending an invitation to President Rodrigo Duterte.
