Mayor Honey ensures peaceful celebration of Sto. Niño feast in Tondo

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan has directed all concerned city government departments, bureaus, and offices to do their part in ensuring the orderly and peaceful holding of the Sto. Nino Feast procession slated in Tondo, Manila on Sunday, Jan. 21.
Sto. Nino de Tondo is a tradition celebrated by Filipino Catholics marked by a procession called "Lakbayaw," which was derived from two Filipino words lakbay (travel) and sayaw (dance).
It is celebrated every third Sunday of January where devotees carry wooden statues and images of Sto. Niño, while chanting "Viva, Sto. Nino!"
The mayor discussed with newly-promoted Manila Police District (MPD) Director Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay the posting and deployment of uniformed personnel in the procession routes.
According to Ibay, 1,600 MPD personnel were deployed to monitor the celebration.
He said the feast was kicked off with a music concert held on Friday, Jan. 19 at Moriones corner Masinop Streets.
Motorists were advised to take alternate routes as some roads were closed for the feast.
Read more: https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/18/manila-to-close-some-roads-for-sto-nino-de-tondo
Lacuna-Pangan also directed the mobilization of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB), Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO), Manila hospitals, the Department of Public Services (DPS), and the City's Engineering Office.
She said this year's Lakbayaw is expected to draw more people than usual after it was suspended along with the Traslacion and Buling-Buling feasts due to the Covid-19 pandemic.