By Minerva Newman CEBU CITY—Nearly three million people filled the streets of Cebu City throughout the 6.5-kilometer route of the solemn procession which culminated the religious activities of the 455th Feast of the Santo Nino Saturday evening after the Misa Pontifical de Visperas at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino. Contingents from different provinces and cities show their colorful costumes as they dance to the beat of Sinulog in the Sinulog Festival Grand Parade 2020 or the feast day of Sto Nino in Cebu City on January 19, 2020. (Juan Carlo de Vela / MANILA BULLETIN)  Millions of candles were lit that lent a glowing glitter to the streets of this city as the procession solemnly proceeded with devotees singing  “Bato Balani sa Gugma” (Magnet of Love) and other hymns to express love, devotion and playful innocence of the miraculous Image of the Sto. Nino. Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) chief P/Col. Engelbert Soriano described the procession as orderly as there was no untoward incident reported through the five hours that the procession lasted. Shiloh Nina Sebolino, a seven-year old girl devotee who was with her parents during the procession, told The Manila Bulletin that the procession was just like walking, singing, praying with everyone seemingly being carried away with the flow of faith and devotion. She also said she, herself, was proof of the miracle that the Sto. Niño grants, as she revealed how her parents prayed long and hard to the Infant Jesus for a child for eight years until He gave her to them. Heny Ann Jimenez, a 30-year old call center worker, described the procession as the light of conversion to the religious faith from the Sto.Nino.  “There is something very quiet and solemn in the prayers of supplication that is “Pit Senjor!” She added. Domingo Canete, a 52-year old habal-habal driver, said: “Manglimbawot imong balahibo sa ka daghan sa mga tawo nga mouban sa procession, kada tuig, grabe nga pagtu-o jud!” (You always get goosebumps when you witness millions of people joining the procession every year, such great faith!). The Fluvial Parade In the early morning of January 18, prior to the solemn mass and procession, was the fluvial parade off the Mactan Channel with at least 179 small and big sea crafts bedecked with colorful flowers and buntings, balloons,  and devotees carrying images of the Sto.Nino The fluvial procession started at 6 a.m. from the Naval Forces Command Headquarters in Mactan Island to Pier 1 in Cebu City where it arrived at about 7:45 a.m. The images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Senor Sto. Nino were then taken back to the Basilica. From the sky hovered a helicopter monitoring the fluvial procession while another jet zoomed by to drop colorful confetti over the procession while devotees from the shore waved and sang to the hymns, prayers and gozos of Sto. Nino and released colorful balloons. The Philippine Coast Guard-Central Visayas estimated the crowd that joined the sea procession to be about 42,800, and said the procession was generally peaceful. “We were able to carry out our security plans properly as there were no maritime-related incidents during the event,” PCG-7 information officer Lt./Jr. Grade Michael Encina told the media. The Sinulog 2020, cultural celebration The Sinulog cultural celebration of the Feast of Sto. Nino has been touted as the country’s biggest mardi gras celebration, with three millions locals, tourists, and devotees expected to join this year’s 2020 edition. There was street-dancing with 27 dance contingents from within and outside Cebu province, 35 floats and 10 puppeteers.. The Sinulog parade started at about 9 a.m. and all the major city streets were closed to traffic because the Sinulog is heralded as best experienced on foot—walking, dancing and just be joyful are the celebratory ingredients of the Sinulog from the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino to the Abellana Complex passing through the streets of P. del Rosario, Gen. Maxilum Avenue to the Fuente Circle down to the complex where the Sinulog showdown happens at about 4-5 p.m. Almost a regular and consistent attraction in the Sinulog parade are the decorative floats, festival queens and puppets and the dance contingents of the Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe of Misamis Occidental, Carcar City Division, Tribu Basakanon of Cebu City, Tribu Pintaflores of San Carlos City, and other contingents from Leyte and Mindanao areas. Lechon, siomai, larsians and other street food are offered along the carousel route of the Sinulog parade and street dancing and merrymaking characterized yearly this cultural celebration of Cebu City. Street parties, colorful, carefree, sunny fashion describe the Sinulog.  Children to adults, and people from all walks of life converge on the streets, pour drinks, share food, faces and bodies are paint, and enjoy life like a child, as the Sto. Nino represents—with a childlike faith and celebration of life.