HOLY SHRINE. The altar of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño de Tondo in Manila is already decked with flowers on Friday (Jan. 19, 2024). Devotees and residents of Tondo and Pandacan Districts will celebrate the Sto. Niño feast on Sunday (Jan. 21). (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)
MANILA – All departments and bureaus of the local government of Manila are ready for the annual celebration of the Feast of Sto. Niño on Sunday.
Mayor Honey Lacuna has directed all concerned offices to ensure an orderly and peaceful feast.
Activities are concentrated in Tondo but Pandacan also celebrate on the same day.
Lacuna has met with new Manila Police District (MPD) Director Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay for the posting and deployment of uniformed officers, according to a news release on Friday.
Manila’s Traffic and Parking Bureau, Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, City Engineer’s Office, Department of Public Services and hospitals have also been directed to mobilize their staff.
Road closures and rerouting schemes will start at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
Scheduled for closure are N. Zamora Street from Moriones to Chacon Streets; Sta. Maria St., from Moriones St. to Morga St.; J. Nolasco St. from Morga St. to N. Zamora St. and Morga St. from J. Nolasco St. to Juan Luna St.; Ortega St. from Asuncion St. to Soliman St.; Lakandula St. from Asuncion St. to Ilaya St.; Ilaya St. from Lakandula St. to CM. Recto Avenue; Chacon St. from N. Zamora St. to Juan Luna St.; and Soliman St. from Morga St. to N. Zamora/Ortega St.
Vehicles going to Tondo Church from J. Nolasco St. may turn right to Morga St., straight to Tuazon St. and Wagas St., or turn left to Asuncion St. going to C.M. Recto to point of destination.
All vehicles from Pritil may use N. Zamora St. and turn left to Moriones St. going to Juan Luna St. to point of destination.
Meanwhile, those coming from C.M. Recto/Asuncion St. may turn left to Lakandula St. to point of destination.
On feast day, devotees bring their statues and images of the Sto. Niño and join a procession in honor of the Holy Child Jesus.
The devotion, which is also huge event in Cebu, had its origin more than 500 years ago when Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan landed in the province in 1519 and brought with him an image of the baby Jesus Christ. (PNA)
