The Pilgrim Image of Senor Sto. Niño of Cebu will arrive today, 7 a.m. at the Iloilo Airport in time for the Dinagyang Festival, according to Emma Galindez-Zapanta, president of the Cofradia de Senor Sto. Nino, the group that is handling the religious activities of the fete.

The image will be brought to the St. Therese College, Magdalo Site in Brgy. Magdalo, La Paz. At noon time, it will be brought to the San Jose Parish Church, City Proper, she said.

“The image is available for viewing in the afternoon,” Zapanta said.

At 5:30 p.m., after the mass, the image will be brought to Brgy. Trapiche, Oton where it will spend the night under the custody of the Cofradia’s Oton chapter.

“The next day, the image will be brought back to San Jose Parish Church,” she said.

The image will be the highlight of the fluvial parade on January 25, 3 p.m. which will start from Fort San Pedro until the area near the Customs building in Muelle Loney. Then, a foot parade going towards San Jose Parish Church will take place.

“Bring your Nino for the procession and have it blessed,” Zapanta said.

The image will also be displayed during the mass for the Kasadyahan and Ati-ati tribes at 5:30 a.m. on January 26 and 27.

On January 26 in the afternoon, the Parish will host the religious “sadsad” or dancing in front of the church. 

“Participating in the sadsad in honor of the Child Jesus has led to many answered prayers” as the image is known for miracles, Zapanta said.

COAST GUARD TO BOOST SECURITY

Meanwhile, Commodore Athelo Ybañez of the Philippine Coast Guard-Western Visayas said that they will also provide security during the festival.

He said Passenger Assistance Centers, or help desks, were already set up in the different seaport terminals to assist thousands of revelers.

He said Coast Guard patrol boats will be deployed to secure participating motorboats and pilgrims in the fluvial parade. 

Further, safety inspectors will check if the participating motorboats and passengers complied with safety standards such as the wearing of lifejackets and the “no overloading” policy. 

Coast Guard rescue divers will complement the safety and security teams.

On top of that, the PCG K9 team of explosive and narcotics detection dogs will conduct sanitization or security paneling of the performance areas.

The canine unit was also requested by TV stations to provide security during their Sunday noontime shows.

FIRE PREPARATIONS

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will be on heightened alert for possible fire incidents after last year's conflagration in the villages of Tanza, Esperanzza, Tanza Timawa and Malipayon Delgado during the festival's awarding ceremony in Jan. 22, 2012.

Fire Officer 2 George Deynon Jr. of the BFP’s Operation Division said 100 personnel will be on call while nine fire trucks are on standby. He said they also have enough water supply from the city and neighboring Iloilo towns.

He said the fire trucks in neighboring towns of Pavia, Leganes, Sta. Barbara, and Oton are on call.

FOOD FESTIVAL

Meanwhile, the four-day Dinagyang Food Festival with live bands will open today along Delgado Street.

“Customers will have a romantic place where they can enjoy their favorite Ilonggo food and at the same time listen to the bands,” said Happy Abenir, spokesperson of Hotels, Restaurants and Resorts Association (IHRRA), the event’s organizer.

The IHRRA, which is led by Alberto Ong of Mansion Garden Hotel, has 65 members, said Abenir.

She said their 36 member-restaurants and hotels will participate in the foodfest. 

Some common dishes to expect are the mouthwatering native chicken inasal, catfish, and pork adobo, among others, she said.

There will be special homemade delicacies like bayebaye of Pavia, banana barbeque, mango-made candies, and pinipig, she added.

CLEANLINESS

To make the area clean and attractive, the IHRRA has placed 20 identical tents for the members.

Jun Lee, chairman of the Food Festival Committee said each member paid P4,000 for rental during the four-day event.

He said that in the past years, the activity has earned profits, thus the proceeds went to the construction of food festival facilities as well as to the association’s thrust fund.

He added they will hire street cleaners, security guards and provide four portalets to keep the area clean and free from foul odor.*