ILOILO City – The San Jose de Placer Parish is urging devotees to openly express their faith in Senior Santo Niño during this Friday afternoon’s fluvial parade and solemn foot procession – a religious highlight of the Dinagyang Festival.
Parish leaders, including Rev. Father Renchie Vicente T. Senoro, OSA, stress the need for the religious event to remain solemn, focusing solely on the veneration of the Senior Santo Niño image, endearingly referred to as the “Golden Boy” by worshippers.
To emphasize the importance of Senior Santo Niño, the parish has decided to include only this revered image in the procession, excluding other floats.
In 1968 Iloilo City devotees of Señor Santo Niño banded to welcome a replica of the image of Señor Santo Niño de Cebu. It was brought by Father Sulpicio Enderes, with the Cofradia de Cebu – group of religious faithful who made the Church an extension of their lives.
The image was enshrined at the San Jose de Placer Church and led to the birth of Cofradia Del Santo Niño, Iloilo Chapter. Weekly novenas were held in the honor of Santo Niño.
A year later, the first San Jose de Placer parish feast of Señor Santo Niño was celebrated with the culmination of a nine-day novena in a fluvial procession.
Robert Alor, the Liturgy Committee chairman, is encouraging devotees to join the foot procession with their personal Senior Santo Niño images, a custom many already follow.
Alor pointed out the contrast between the reserved devotion of Iloilo’s faithful and the more overt expressions of faith seen in Cebu, urging for a more visible demonstration of faith during the procession.
Joselito Candoleta, the procession coordinator, notes that church attendance spikes during the Dinagyang Festival and similar events but declines during regular masses. This trend prompts questions about the depth of the community’s devotion.
Procession Details and Safety Protocols
This year’s fluvial procession will introduce minor changes, with the Senior Santo Niño image setting off from the Philippine Ports Authority terminal at Fort San Pedro, and devotees boarding at Parola wharf for the fluvial procession.
The Philippine Coast Guard has mandated these adjustments for safety, limiting each of the 12 participating fiber boats to 50% of their capacity to ensure a safe passage for approximately 491 devotees on a first-come, first-served basis.
To enhance safety, the event prohibits senior citizens, pregnant women, and individuals with disabilities or comorbidities from participating. Devotees must present identification to confirm their age, and carrying backpacks and bladed weapons is strictly banned.
Devotees will start boarding for the fluvial procession at noon, with a cut-off at 1:30 pm to begin the procession on time.
Following the fluvial event, the solemn foot procession will commence at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand going to the San Jose de Placer Church.
This year’s procession will be simplified, focusing exclusively on the Senior Santo Niño image, contrasting with previous years’ events that featured multiple images.
Due to the processions, the Philippine Coast Guard has announced a temporary suspension of ferry services between Guimaras and Iloilo City at Parola wharf from 12 noon to 4 p.m., with services resuming after the fluvial parade./PN
