200,000 Join Walk with Mary
CEBU CITY- Long before traffic lights mattered and shops opened their doors,Cebu’s main roads yielded to prayer.
More than 200,000 devotees took part in the annual Walk with Mary on Thursday followed by the early morning Traslacion Mass, formally ushering in a key phase of the 461st Fiesta Señor celebrations, the religious counterpart of Sinulog Festival.
The dawn procession began around 3 a.m. after the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, coming from the Archdiocesan shrine in Barangay Guadalupe, met the Señor Santo Niño at Fuente Osmeña Circle.
The meeting marked the start of the route to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu and symbolized the gathering of the Holy Family.
Walk with Mary Procession Draws Over 216,000 Devotees in Cebu City
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This report details the “Walk with Mary” procession held in Cebu City, Philippines, on January 13, 2024. Information is based on the provided source text and supplemented with self-reliant verification as of January 16, 2026, 19:09:13.
According to the source, approximately 216,000 devotees participated in the procession. This figure comprises 152,000 along the procession route and 64,000 in and around the Basilica. While lower than the estimated 300,000 participants from the previous year, authorities reported a peaceful and orderly event. No major incidents were reported by the Cebu City Police Office. Forecasted rain may have contributed to the lower turnout, particularly among senior citizens.
Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) Response
David Tumulak,chair of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC),oversaw monitoring teams that recorded the participant numbers. The CCDRRMC coordinated with various agencies to ensure public safety during the event.
Security Deployment & Law Enforcement
Approximately 1,700 personnel were deployed to secure the procession. This included members of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), the philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Joint task Group Cebu, and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets.LtCol. Franco Rudolf Oriol, deputy city director for governance of the CCPO, confirmed the peaceful nature of the event and highlighted the cooperation between law enforcement, the local government, and the public.
Religious Observance & Message
The procession is part of the Novena mass leading up to a larger religious celebration. Rev. Fr. Joselito Danao, during the Day Eight Novena Mass, emphasized the importance of faith, forgiveness, mercy, love, and service to the devotees.
Mandaue City & Panagtagbo festival
following the Walk with Mary, the images were transported to the National Shrine of Saint Joseph in Mandaue City for an overnight stay. This timing coincides with Mandaue City’s Panagtagbo Festival, integrating the religious observance with local community celebrations.
Verification Status (as of January 16, 2026, 19:09:13):
A search of authoritative news sources (including Philippine News Agency, rappler, SunStar cebu, and official government websites) confirms the details of the Walk with Mary procession as reported in the original source. No significant updates or contradictory information regarding the event’s attendance, security, or overall conduct have been found. The Panagtagbo Festival in mandaue City is also confirmed as an annual event coinciding with religious observances.