The pilgrim image of the Señor Sto. Niño was sent off Thursday from the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu for a visit to hospitals and jails as part of the pre-fiesta activities leading to the Sinulog festival on Jan. 11-26.

Fr. Nelson Zerda, rector at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu and executive chair of the Fiesta Señor 2024, said the visitation of the holy image is part of the Cebuanos’ pre-fiesta tradition to allow devotees living in remote areas to pray to the Holy Child Jesus.

The image was first brought to the Cebu South Medical Center and the Talisay City Jail through a mobile procession but will be brought back here to visit the two private hospitals in Mandaue City and the City Jail there on Friday.

The image will have Saturday visits to the Cebu City Operations Second Chance Center, Cebu City Jail’s female and male dormitories, Cebu City Medical Center, Vicente Soto Memorial Medical Center, and five private hospitals on Sunday and Monday.

During the send-off Mass, Fr. Justin Fulton of the Diocese of Nebraska, USA cited the Cebuanos for keeping their faith since 1521.

“I want to thank you all out in the congregation for living your Catholic faith in a beautiful, exuberant. and joyful way. It is edifying to see so many people at Mass this morning and to see smiling faces of everybody here,” the American priest said in his homily.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office 7 (Central Visayas) spokesperson Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare said the regional police continues to conduct a threat assessment to determine the number of security forces to be deployed during the Sinulog celebration.

In 2023, the police deployed 19,000 policemen, soldiers, coast guard, and firefighters during the Sinulog. (PNA)