Long before sunrise on Thursday, Cebu’s streets were already alive with prayer as more than 200,000 devotees took part in the annual Walk with Mary, one of the most solemn and symbolic rites of the Fiesta Señor.
Carrying candles and images of the Santo Niño, devotees walked quietly through the early morning darkness, their footsteps and whispered prayers guiding them toward the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu for the Traslacion Mass.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, chair of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), said authorities recorded an estimated 216,000 participants, with about 152,000 devotees along the procession route and another 64,000 gathered around the Basilica.
For police and emergency officials, the event unfolded as planned.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Franco Rudolf Oriol, deputy city director for administration of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said the procession remained peaceful and orderly throughout.
“So far, very peaceful. Everything happened according to plan. One big factor is the cooperation of the people and the coordination between law enforcement and the local government,” Oriol said.
Initial police estimates placed attendance at around 160,000 along the route, but final figures from the CDRRMC showed higher turnout.
In January 2025, authorities estimated that about 300,000 devotees joined the Walk with Mary.
The procession formally began at around 4 a.m., when the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, coming from the Archdiocesan Shrine, met the Señor Santo Niño at Fuente Osmeña Circle—an encounter many devotees consider the spiritual heart of the event.
From there, the images made their way to the Basilica, as Cebuano faithful lined the streets, some joining the walk, others standing quietly with clasped hands as prayers and hymns passed by.
By the time the Traslacion Mass began, thousands had already filled the Basilica grounds, with more devotees arriving as daylight slowly broke.
During the Day 8 Novena Mass at 5:30 a.m., Rev. Fr. Joselito Danao reminded the faithful that devotion must go beyond ritual.
“The final destiny, the final conclusion for each one of us, will be one family in God in heaven,” Danao said.
He urged devotees to live out the values embodied by the Santo Niño—mercy, forgiveness, love, and service—in their daily lives.
This year’s Walk with Mary also marked the transfer of the images to the National Shrine of Saint Joseph in Mandaue City, where they will remain overnight to allow devotees from neighboring towns to venerate the Sagrada Familia.
Authorities deployed about 1,700 personnel before dawn, including members of the police, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Joint Task Group Cebu, and ROTC cadets. Volunteers were stationed along the route to help manage the crowd and ensure the safe movement of devotees.
Oriol noted that forecasted rain may have discouraged some senior citizens and other participants, but said attendance could still rise during Saturday’s grand foot procession if weather conditions improve.
A welcome Mass at the National Shrine of Saint Joseph is scheduled at 9 a.m., followed by continuous veneration of the images. The church will remain open overnight, with several Masses leading up to the farewell Mass at 4 a.m. on January 16.
The religious observance coincides with Mandaue City’s Panagtagbo Festival, weaving the Walk with Mary into a broader celebration of faith and community. (LLP)
Photo from Cebu Archdiocese
