CEBU CITY: Thousands of devotees in Mandaue City waved their hands and sang "Bato Balani sa Gugma" (Magnet of Love) on Friday, January 19, as they received the sacred images of the Sr. Sto. Niño and the Our Lady of Guadalupe in a traditional Traslacion.

The annual Traslacion is a prelude to the Saturday fluvial parade and solemn foot procession.

Mayor Michael Rama led the residents of Cebu City in handing over the sacred images to Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes at the boundary between the two localities and joined other devotees in bringing them to the St. Joseph Parish for a Holy Mass.

On Friday night, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan led the island villagers in receiving the images at the first Mactan-Mandaue Bridge.

The image of the Sto. Niño will later be brought to the Galleon at the Muelle Osmeña for the fluvial parade, Chan told reporters.

More than 200 sea-going vessels, including more than a hundred motorized boats, will join the fluvial procession, said Commander Mark Larsen Mariano, chief of Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu.