Hello wonderful friends and fellow Hivers! How are you today? I hope everyone is well. How well did you spend your weekend? Some of us spend time with our loved ones with simple get together or beach outings, and some stays with friends. Today, I will be sharing with you my well-spent weekend - attended the Solemn Foot Procession plus my simple birthday celebration.
It was a gloomy day. Everything is set. All bags are packed for today's walk. Today is a very special day for we are about to join the Solemn Foot Procession for the celebration of Snr. Santo Niño Fiesta.
THE SOLEMN FOOT PROCESSION
The grandest celebration in Cebu, the feast day of Snr. Santo Niño is celebrated every Third Sunday of January. Then, the Solemn Foot Procession will be done the day before the fiesta celebration.
At last! I can join again the solemn foot procession. For the last 2 years since Covid-19 hit our country, the fiesta celebration of Snr. Santo Niño is celebrated virtually at home.
Since I was in college, I was very glad that my aunt and my sister encouraged me to join the Solemn Foot Procession. It was 5.7 km. walk to finish the route. Since then, it was my yearly devotion to attend and joined the procession.
I remember every time we attended the Solemn Foot Procession, never a year that there is no rain or low-pressure days before the celebration or on the day of the celebration. Yet, people still will come and will join the celebration.
Despite the bad weather during the entire week, still, thousands of people flocked to Basilica Minore del Santo Niño to join the Solemn Foot Procession. I was so lucky that I was one of the thousands of people who wished to join the procession.
Seeing those thousands of people walking with faith and believing in Snr. Sto. Niño can make you feel goosebumps all over.
If you're a Cebuano, then you'd know about "Bato Balani sa Gugma". That is the Gozos of the traditional Santo Niño Hymn. Every time the singing of Bato Balani sa Gugma (Magnet of Love) is sung, people are waving their hands manifesting that their prayers will be heard and granted.
People were so creative in making different booths to express their love and devotion.
These photos were taken during the Solemn Foot Procession
Some parents dressed their children like mini Sto. Niño. In this way, they were showing how thankful they are for the good health and blessings received by their families.
It was indeed a blissful feeling to attend the Solemn Foot Procession. Despite the distance, people still finished the procession from where it started - Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño. The cramps and pains you felt while attending paid off.
MY SIMPLE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Aside from it, being my yearly devotion that's why I always attend the procession, January is also my birth month.
After the Solemn Foot Procession, we went straight to SM because my friends insist that we will go there. I refused but then they were so persistent and they won. They convinced me and to my surprise, they have booked reservations at Vikings as their birthday gift for me.
I never expect that they prepare something for me. All I want for my birthday is a simple celebration. I just wanted to attend the procession, and give thanks for all the blessings received for the entire year. But eventually, it turns out different this time.
Never in my plans, that I will celebrate my birthday at this high-class restaurant. I was mesmerized by their efforts to make this a possible one. It was so amazing that after a long walk is a sumptuous meal served to me.
It was so magical how this day turns out to be another significant and one of the best days for me.
Indeed, I am so thankful for the blessings received, and for the overwhelming love and support of my family, and friends in my endeavor in life. Life is so wonderful when we have our loved ones with us celebrating our ups and downs.
That's all for today my hive friends. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog. It's been a pleasure sharing with you my walk for today. See you on my next blog!