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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Fewer masses to ensure physical distancing for Sto. Niño feast in Tondo, Pandacan

Fewer masses to ensure physical distancing for Sto. Niño feast in Tondo, Pandacan

Published Jan 15, 2021 04:37 pm

There will be fewer masses to be celebrated for this year's feast of Sto. Niño de Tondo and de Pandacan on the weekend to ensure physical distancing among devotees, church officials said.

Fr. Estrelito Villegas of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño de Tondo said from 33 annual masses, only 11 masses will be held this year and only 300 attendees will be allowed inside the church at a time.

Meanwhile, Fr. Gilbert Kabigting from Sto. Niño de Pandacan Parish said they will only be holding nine masses this year from the usual 15 masses held every year.

Kabigting said they will only set up a small space to celebrate the masses for 150 devotees at a time. The church was hit by a fire in July 2020, that also burned down the centuries-old revered image of the Santo Niño de Pandacan, and is still being rebuilt.

Below is the list of the scheduled masses:

Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño de Tondo:

Saturday

—3:00 p.m.

—5:00 p.m.

—7:00 p.m.

Sunday

—4:00 a.m.

—6:00 a.m.

—8:00 a.m.

—10:00 a.m.

—12:00 p.m.

—3:00 p.m.

—5:00 p.m.

—7:00 p.m.

Sto. Niño de Pandacan Parish

Sunday

—4:30 a.m.

—6:00 a.m.

—7:30 a.m.

—9:00 a.m.

—10:30 a.m.

—12:00 p.m.

—3:30 p.m.

—5:00 p.m.

—6:30 p.m.

—8:00 p.m.

The church officials encouraged devotees to attend masses virtually by watching their Facebook broadcasts instead.

"Wala pong kabawasan sa debosyon (ang panonood ng misa sa Facebook) (Watching masses through Facebook does not lessen your devotion)," Villegas said in a Facebook live broadcast on Friday.

He said devotion is not measured on the rituals and traditions that devotees performed in the previous years, but on their love and consideration for others amid the pandemic.

"Ang debosyon ay nasa puso. Sa FB man 'yan, kung nasa puso mo 'yung debosyon mo sa Santo Niño at sinasapuso mo ang kahulugan ng debosyon na 'yon, doon mauugnay ang pagmamahal sa isa't-isa (Devotion is in the heart. Whether you watch masses on Facebook or not, if you put your heart in your devotion for the Santo Niño and if you put your heart in the meaning of your devotion, you will be able to connect the love for others)," Kabigting said, echoing Villegas.

"Ang mahalaga talaga ngayon ay ang pagmamalasakit sa isa't-isa (What is important is our compassion for each other)," he added.

Devotees who will insist on attending physical masses will have to fill out contact tracing forms before being allowed to enter church premises. Minors and those aged over 65 will be barred entry.

The churches will be disinfected after every mass.

Those who will not be able to enter the church to hear mass can watch through LED screens that will be installed outside the church. Markers were painted on the church grounds to ensure physical distancing among devotees.

Villegas said their plaza in Tondo can hold up to 3,000 people while Kabigting said only 500 people can stay outside their church in Pandacan.

Earlier, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso ordered a ban on street parties, stage shows, street games, and other similar activities. A liquor ban will also be imposed.

The Sto. Niño de Pandacan Parish will also not be holding any baptisms on the weekend. The Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño de Tondo will allow baptism for four batches of 15 individuals.

In "worst case scenarios" where a commotion will ensue, both church officials said they will not hesitate to cancel physical masses. However, the masses will continue to be broadcasted on Facebook.

The Manila Police District will also prohibit vendors and obstructions around the church during the event.

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