3 Sisters join Pagoda fluvial procession

Sr. Maria Remedios R. Cayetano, SPC leads the SPCB community
when it was scheduled for the lotrina on the fourth night of
the novena of the Mahal na Poon ng Krus sa Wawa.

 For the first time in years, three SPC Sisters were among the passengers of the famous three-tiered Pagoda that carried the Mahal na Poon ng Krus sa Wawa on the fourth night, June 30, of its nightly lotrina during the Novena before its feast.

Sr. Maria Remedios R. Cayetano, SPC, the School Directress and High School Principal, Sr. Ma. Gemma Moralita, SPC, the Christian Formation and Community Extension Services Head, and Sr. Rosalina Herrera, SPC, Program Head of St. Paul University Quezon City Bocaue Campus joined around 200 devotees in praying the Holy Rosary and joining in the hymns as the Pagoda sailed for about three hours along the Wawa River from 6:00 p.m. until about 9:00 p.m.

They were accompanied by about 20 faculty members and staff, who also attended the novena Mass also sponsored by the school.

The Pagoda stopped at the exact site where the infamous Pagoda Tragedy of 1993 took place as the song Hindi Kita Malilimutan was sung by the on-board choir.

Mr. Ernesto U. Guillermo, Jr., the HS Academic Chair, also a former President of the Parish Pastoral Council of St. Martin of Tours Parish which is the Diocesan Shrine of the Mahal na Poon ng Krus sa Wawa, helped Sr. Remedios get familiarized with the festivities, particularly the nightly lotrina which culminates in the ligiran during its feastday on July 6.

The feast had become movable from its original July 2, in respect to the victims of the tragedy. Since then, the feast has been observed every first Sunday of July following July 2.

This year marks the beginning of the revival of the traditional Pagoda. In the previous years, a small Pagoda was used but did not sail for a nine-day lotrina and could only accommodate 50 people. This year, the Pagoda's estimated capacity could be 500 persons at a time but was regulated to a maximum of 250 persons only. A manifest of passengers where people sign in was required every night. Passengers were given life vests to ensure safety.