By
Dominic I. Sanchez
ZAMBOANGA
CITY – Mayor Beng Climaco-Salazar yesterday (October 12)
thanked the police, military, their force multipliers and residents for helping ensure a safe Fiesta Pilar
celebration, since October 1 until yesterday’s grand procession.
Thousands
of residents from all walks of life joined in the Grand Procession in honor of
Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar, the city’s matron, which began at around 3
in the afternoon at the Metropolitan Cathedral, ending at around 5, with a mass
celebrated by Archbishop Romulo dela Cruz at the Fort Pilar.
Fort
Pilar itself was packed with devotees including Mayor Climaco-Salazar,
Congressman Celso Lobregat and other local officials. Residents have been
coming in throngs to Fort Pilar since the start of the 9-day Novena in honor of
the Lady.
Ñora
Carmelita Delos Reyes, a 72-year-old devotee who has been a La Virgen devotee
all her life said that she felt more comfortable seeing police, military and
Red Cross volunteers all around Fort Pilar. “Mas ta sinti iyo comfortable pati
hinde na iyo ta tiene miedo na ay tiene maga mal hente na pikura ase malo el
celebrasyon,” (I feel comfortable and I am not anymore afraid that there could be
any person to do their evil plans to disrupt the celebrations), said Ñora
Carmelita.
Security
in the procession route as well as in Fort Pilar itself was very tight. Police
and military were highly visible, and adding to them were force multipliers including
criminology students from local universities.
Cellular
signal was observed to have been cut off in the procession areas as part of the
security measures.
Earlier,
Mayor Climaco-Salazar issued executive orders with regards to security measures
in Fiesta Hermosa activity areas. This included the banning of caps, backpacks,
and the wearing of hoods in the premises. Devotees were also subjected to
inspection prior to entering the Fort Pilar shrine.
The
mayor expressed her gratitude for all who participated and cooperated with the
authorities in the strict implementation of the security procedures.
