KALIBO, Aklan – Church activities for the feast of Sto. Niño de Kalibo will push through despite the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Cathedral Parish of Saint John the Baptist has been preparing the activities.
More than 20 Sto. Niño images – all owned by devotees from Kalibo and nearby towns – will be displayed at the cathedral on Jan. 7.
The exhibit is open to the public until Jan. 15.
The chapel visits “Pagbisita ni Sto. Niño sa Barrio” will start on Jan. 7 in Tinigaw (San Roque Chapel), Jan. 8 in Mobo (San Isidro Labrador Chapel), Jan. 10 in Bakhaw Sur (San Roque Chapel), and Jan. 11 in Linabuan Norte (San Lorenzo Chapel).
Chapel visits of the Sto. Niño de Kalibo image are also scheduled on Jan. 12 in Estancia (Immaculate Conception Chapel), Jan. 13 in Bakhaw Norte (San Juan Nepomuceno Chapel), and Jan. 14 in Tigayon (Sta. Barbara Chapel).
There will be mobile processions and caravans of Sto. Niño images on Jan. 7 at 3 p.m. on major streets of Kalibo as well as on Jan. 15 at 4 a.m. for the dawn procession, Jan. 16 after the Pilgrims Mass for the grand procession, and the grand parade at 3 p.m.
The Catholic faithful will also gather at Saint John the Baptist Cathedral for novena prayers and novena masses.
The novena this year is from Jan. 7 to 15.
The Sto. Niño festival in Kalibo, Aklan is the largest attended event in the province of Aklan. The feast culminates on the third Sunday of January.
The traditional street dancing and solemn foot procession of devotees and merrymakers have been cancelled due to threats of coronavirus.
It will be the second time that the crowd-drawing activities, which draw thousands of visitors every year, will not be observed./PN
