In reiterating his reluctance to allow the annual Black Nazarene ‘traslacion‘ (procession) to proceed this Saturday, January 9, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno emphasized that it’s still unsafe for the faithful to attend the event.

“Mangita ta og pamaagi nga mag-obserbahan ang atong religious belief apan importante na di mabutang sa alanganin ang katawhan sa dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro. Kon moingon ko nga uyon ko (sa procession) dawbe ang COVID-19 mouyon ba nga di manakod? Mao gani ang problema kay di ta magbuot niani kay igo lang ta depensa sa COVID-19,” Moreno said in Monday noon’s press briefing.

(We look for ways to observe our religious beliefs but what is important is the people of Cagayan de Oro are not compromised. If I agree to the procession, would COVID-19 agree not to infect the faithful? That’s our problem because we don’t dictate the virus, we can only protect ourselves from it.)

Moreno said it’s not a question of whether or not he would agree to the annual procession that may draw many Kagay-anon faithful but what the people can do to avoid being infected by COVID-19. “I’m not saying nga ayaw, pangitaon nato paagi ang importante is di ta magpatakod sa COVID-19 (I’m not saying no, we’ll find ways but what’s important is we should not be infected by COVID-19),” Moreno said.

He said even the local Church leaders would understand since they also made adjustments in accommodating the faithful to their Masses in compliance to minimum public health protocols. Acting City Health Officer Dr. Lorraine Nery said it remains advisable not to hold public events that draw a large crowd due to the pandemic.

“Di ta nagbuot sa COVID-19 apan kahibalo kita kon unsa atong himoon aron di makatakod si COVID-19…dawbe unsa man kon makatakod si COVID-19 taman lang ta sa basol ana. Lisod na. I’m sure ang simbahan makasabot na og di sila mosugot nga mabutang sa alanganin ilang miyembro (Again we don’t dictate on COVID-19 but we know by now what we do so we won’t get infected…but what if there’s infection, we end up blaming each other, that’s what’s tough. I’m sure the Church understands and won’t agree on risking the safety of their faithful),” Moreno said. (Stephen Capillas/City Information Office)

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See here last year’s traslacion in Cagayan de Oro City