Devotee City 2016 To Open Jan. 15

The city government here will open once again its doors to the thousands of Senior Sto. Niño devotees coming in the city who can’t afford a place to stay here during the festivity and the Sinulog celebration.

Devotee City was originally called as the ‘Tent City’ which was conceptualized as a free shelter for the devotees of the Holy Child whose festivity is held every third Sunday of January which falls on January 17 this year.

This, as hotels and pension houses are fully booked days before the annual and grand occasion. It started in Plaza Independencia and later transferred its operations along Compania Maritima Building which is now held in the same venue for years now.

In the meantime, the temporary terminal for vans-for-hire (V-hires) located along Compania Maritima Building was moved to the nearby vacant lot beside the Senior Citizen’s Park since January 3 to give way for the preparations for the Devotee City.

In an interview with the BARUGG News, Miriam Cabaluna, administrative officer of the Office of Cebu City Councilor Roberto ‘Bob’ Cabarrubias, the chairman of this year’s Sinulog Devotee City, shared that the city is preparing for at least 120 container vans this year in order to accommodate an estimated of more than three thousand devotees, adding that each van can accommodate a maximum of 30 persons.

She said the same amenities and services in the previous years will be offered also this year.

The amenities included portable toilets, garbage bins, shower rooms, cooking area, free wireless fidelity (wi-fi) connection, Pan tilt zoom (Ptz) IP Camera for live video streaming link to Cebu City Government website (www.cebucity.gov.ph) and to the Cebu City Command Control Center, Mass, Confession, Medical Services and Nightly Variety Shows, among others.

To avail of the services, at least devotees who are coming from beyond Danao City in the northern part of Cebu Province and beyond Carcar City in the south, and also for those coming from the nearby Islands must present their bus or boat tickets.

Meanwhile, a press conference is set on January 12 Tuesday at 10AM at the site of the Devotee City.

The Devotee City, furthermore, will start accommodating the devotees on a first come first served basis starting January 15 Friday right after the ceremonial opening. The operation will run for three days ending in the afternoon on January 17.

(Cebu City Public Information office PIO/Greggy Jiggs P. Senados)