Tomorrow is the Feast Day of the ‘Our Lady of Guadalupe’. The Virgin of Guadalupe was recently proclaimed the Patron Saint of Cebu. Sr. Sto. Niño previously held the title. But it was decreed that the Niño is a child representation of Jesus. And since only saints are allowed to become patrons of certain areas, the title wa given to the Virgin of Guadalupe.
A day before the actual fiesta, a solemn procession is held for the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Every year, thousands of people flock to Guadalupe to pay homage to the Virgin and join her procession. A huge yearly turnout is almost always ensured not only because she is the Patroness of Cebu but also because her church is located in Cebu’s biggest baranggay – Guadalupe. A solid attendance from its locals alone is enough to flood the island’s longest Avenue – V. Rama Avenue – which starts at the very door of the church.
The procession usually starts at 6 pm. The image is paraded on the street cross the M. Velez/V. Rama junction and straight to Englis – the last part of Baranggay Guadalupe. When it reaches corner B. Rodriguez, the procession makes a U-Turn and heads back to church. This was the usual case for years. Until another parish – the Parish of the Alliance of Two Hearts in Horseshoe Drive in Banawa – was given jurisdiction over the lower half of Guadalupe [Englis to corner B. Rodriguez]. The upper half of Guadalupe didn’t take the change lightly. For that reason, during the procession that year, the parade organizers refused to parade the image in Englis saying that it wasn’t part of the Parish’s jurisdiction. When the Englis folks learned of this, they were disheartened. They’ve made all necessary preparations for the procession. Houses along the road have been decorated. Small altars have been set up and candles have been lit.
The people of Englis took it as one cruel joke.
So when the organizers ordered the carro of the Virgin to make a U-Turn upon reaching the M. Velez/V. Rama junction, the people of Englis literally used their force to change the direction of the carro. A brawl almost erupted as both camps pulled the carro in opposite directions.
It was a good thing that clearer heads took control and a pact was made that very moment. The carro proceeded to Englis.
I believe that that event greatly changed the way preparations for the yearly procession are made. Englis folks constantly want to prove to their counterparts that they deserve to be ‘visited’ by the image too. This explains why Englis, even if it’s the farthest area from the parish church, usually has the best decorations for the yearly event.
The carro of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Englis
The Englis side of the procession route was ready as early as 3 in the afternoon. Here a house by the road decorated the images with series lights, flowers, and balloons.
The Andaya Residence in Englis is covered with lights for the occasion.
The lights-covered house was one of the most appreciated decorations along the parade route.
This apartment complex in Englis is also covered with lights.
The altar outside my cousin’s house.
Carla smiling for the camera.
A belen in Englis
Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe with two angels and a water fountain.
Image of Sr. Sto. Niño
With series lights and curtains.
Candles ready for the procession.
Muscle Blast Gymn’s decoration
The decoration of the Racuya’s was probably the best one this year. They have an actual Virgin Mary, angels, and a Sto. Niño.
Sto. Niñ0 cleaning his shoes.
Virgin Mary.
Another belen in Englis.
Decoration of our sitio.
The people were pretty excited as the head of the procession becomes visible.
Suddenly, it started raining really hard.
But the procession had to go on.
Band members soaking wet.
Those with umbrellas were lucky enough.
But it was fair game when the rain fell even harder.
Those who were waiting for the procession waited under their umbrellas.
And the procession went on.
The image finally came [under an umbrella, of course]
Almost everyone was already wet.
And rain continued to fall.
The paper flowers knelt down in defeat.
And they lost their colors.
It was great to see our men in uniform still in line despite being very wet.
And the sacristans continued to walk in a straight line.
The fireworks were still lit when the carro passed by.
HAPPY FIESTA GUADALUPE! Our Lady of Guadalupe fits the title as the Patron of Cebu. Guadalupe people, please let the Englis people join you, the more the merrier.=) Peace to all!!
wow…thanks for posting…..nostalgic dyud kaayo mag tan aw ani nga naa sa lagyo, kahinumdom ko sauna kada labay sa may englis and v. rama, nindot kaayo na ilang mga decorations diha during christmas season….
Happy fiesta! Ley, magtumba mo ug baboy or baka? By the way, I agree with ianne about letting the Englis devotees be honored with the passing of the carro in their neighborhood as well. Petty politics is a silly reason to deprive them of Our Lady.
@sir takdol
ang amo rang mga silingan ang naay gitumba. kami kay gatumba-tumba lang mi pero walay kaon. hahahaha.
as in usa ko sa nabasa gabii.. grabe ang cofetti and balloons sa white na apartment.
tradition na jud na diha sa gudalupe ang mag butang og paper flowers noh. bisan sa una na gamay pako naa naman na.
This Website is great! HAPPY FIESTA GUADALUPE CEBU! I have recently move from the philippines to U.S.A. can’t wait to go back on May! I Love Cebu!
being a catholic, this display of faith is very moving.
maayo kaayo pagka han-ay ang pictures. they speak louder than words tinuod. the strong gust of wind that preluded the rain was enough for me to cringe inside my house. sus, maayo pa ug nigawas ko, makasaksi gyod unta ko sa procession.HAPPY FIESTA!
I keep thinking what Patron having a fiesta this month,December.
Ahhh it’s Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Birhen sa Immaculada Conception. Happy Fiesta sa mga taga Guadalupe ug Oslob.
Raining during the procession means blessings.
ley, i’ll take some of your pics kay ako ipost sa ako flickr.. icredit taka.. thanks
Ley,
Thanks for the wonderful pictures of the procession of the Lady of Guadalupe..Very nostalgic indeed..mahinumdom jud ko sa akong panahon dinha sa Eskina Banawa..
Happy Fiesta to all Guadalupehanons especially to my clans..Labra and Caballes..
Ernie
Hey Ley, ? 4u. There used to be a kind of pharmaceutical company in Banawa, making ‘mugrazo’ soap and other products-is it still existing?. We supplied them cleaned recyled bottles ages ago, you were not born yet.
Even if its just pictures, I’m glad to be a witness of a marvelous fiesta being celebrated in Philippines particularly Cebu. Rain or shine the celebration continues. I guess it was a great blessing to have the rain pouring on the parade. Happy Fiesta Ley!
wow nice awesome pictures Ley.
im supposed to be here but the traffic cause me to stay at home . and i have to trip my client to a house and lot rent to own in lapu lapu .. but its nice to see a post here … great post
Hello Ley! This is a nice post and again, nice pics sad. I can’t wait to see all the lights and decorations along the streets leading to Guadalupe Church. I saw it last year and it was really festive. Will be leaving this Sunday for the Philippines na. I hope we’ll still have our grand EB at Jollibee.
This is great, love the pictures. Sto. Nino will always be the Patron and Protector of Cebu and Cebuanos for me.
Thanks for sharing – my sister and I appreciate your efforts always, always!
Take care of yourself – have a great season of holydays and holidays.
Yes, the word patron refers to saints. devotion is to GOD.
haaayyy. i dunno what is the problem with my computer. dili ko ka-view sa pictures. captions lang akong ang mabasa.hehe. nag-imagine na lang ko.
I learned another info. Guadalupe diay ang largest baranggay in Cebu. Nice post! I’ll dig up previous posts!
waaaa.. na pa jud mi sa banawa adto na time pag bundak sa uwan..nag pasilong mi sa caltex. pero amu nalang gi putol ang procession kay basa na akong mom.. nya pag abut sa amo sa Quijada compound.. nag pa buto nalang mi ug daghang confetti… tsk sayanga jud adto uy nga ni bundak jud ang uwan.. pero cge lang.. nalingaw man pud mi sa pista kay kaon gihapon.. hehehe daghan bisita.. RAIN OR SHINE the PROCESSION MUST GO ON… VIVA BIRHEN SA GUADaLUPE.. Thanks you for letting me pass the Nursing Board Exam!!! By the way i borrowed some of your pictures… thanks… and see you next year nasad.. heheheh.. nice captures and photos.. keep it going jud!!! God Bless.. basta its a panata na jud nako as a Guadalupehanon to part take sa iyang fiesta.. bitaw.. ive been asking church officials why ang englis dili apilon sa mga procession sa Guadalupe…pero its a gud thing evry fiesta mu agi jud ang carrosa diba? by the way…. plaese pass by my ad… you will see your pics there also…http://www.flickr.com/photos/23595035@N07/
i like much more our lady of guadalupe because that was were same birthday
i felt so strong she gave me strength and i inspire of my birhen…..
Happy Fiesta, kumusta ang fiesta Ley?
ok ra man @mam inday. pero wa na ko kaabot sa procession kay sayo man gisugdan. tupa ko sa office ato. hehe