Devotees celebrated across the country on the eve of the Feast of Sto. Niño today (Sunday).
Dances in colorful costumes pounded the streets of Pandacan and Tondo while over 300 vessels sailed the Mactan Channel in Cebu.
Close to 50,000 people joined the “Lakbayaw” festival – a portmanteau of “lakbay” (travel) and “sayaw” (dance) in Tondo, Manila yesterday.

Nine streets in Pandacan, Manila were also temporarily closed as early as 7 a.m. Saturday.
The affected streets were: Jesus St.-Palumpong St. (Quirino Ave. to Beata St.); Hilum St. (Teodoro San Luis St. to Beata St.); Beata St. (Hilum St. to T. Claudio St.); E. Zamora St. (Quirino Ave. to Hilum St.); Laura St. (Menandro to Beata St.); Labores St. (Paco-Sta. Mesa Rd. to Jesus St.); Narciso St. (Jesus St. to Hilum St.); Industria St. (Jesus St. to Hilum St.); and Teodoro San Luis St. (Jesus St. to Hilum St.).

The Feast of Sto. Niño is held every third Sunday of January, with devotees traditionally bringing their Sto. Niño statues and joining processions in honor of the Holy Child Jesus.
In Cebu, up to 355 vessels participated in the fluvial procession marking the 460th Fiesta Señor celebration.

Fr. Jules Van Almieres, media liason officer of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, told GMA Regional TV the number is more than the 329 vessels that registered earlier.
Photos from Danny Pata, Joan Bondoc, Norman Cruz and Alan Tangcawan