As the first light of day breaks over Cebu’s waters, a moment of quiet reverence unfolds. Around 6:30 a.m., the sea becomes a sanctuary as Señor Sto. Niño de Cebu—revered as Capitan General—embarks on the traditional fluvial procession, marking one of the most solemn highlights of the Fiesta Señor.
Aboard the official galleon of the 461st Fiesta Señor, the sacred image journeys across the water accompanied by Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Joseph, completing the presence of the Holy Family. Their voyage by sea is both symbolic and deeply rooted in faith—an offering of gratitude, protection, and devotion from a people whose lives are intertwined with the Niño.
For generations, the fluvial traditionally carried only the images of the Señor and Our Lady of Guadalupe. The inclusion of St. Joseph in 2024 marked a quiet yet powerful evolution of the ritual—bringing the entire Holy Family together for the return journey to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu.
As the galleon glides across the water, devotees line the shores and nearby vessels in prayerful silence, witnessing a moving reminder that faith, like the sea, carries history, hope, and continuity. In this sacred crossing, the King does not merely sail—He blesses, He gathers, and He leads His people home.