3. Sinulog Fluvial Parade

Saturday morning, January 17, 2004

In the Fluvial, the sacred images of the Santo Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe are first carried from the Basilica Sto. Niño in Cebu City to the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City, to symbolize the reunion of the family. The next day they are returned to Cebu by boat, to re-enact their original transport by the Augustinian fathers who accompanied Miguel Legazpi from Spain. This year, more than 100 watercraft assembled in Mactan Channel to accompany the statues. Thousands of devotees lining the piers in Mandaue, Lapu-lapu and Cebu City lit firecrackers and released hundreds of red and white balloons into the air. Upon arrival at the pier in Cebu, the images were greeted by a huge crowd and then carried throught the streets back to the Basilica.

The M.V. Trinidad (red bunting) carrying the images is just about to land at Pier 1 in Cebu City.