CEBU CITY, Philippines – Millions of devotees and revelers participated in the religious and cultural event honoring the Sto. Niño de Cebu during the “festival of all festivals,” the Sinulog Grand Mardi Gras, Sunday.

According to the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), millions of devotees attended the fluvial procession on Saturday morning and the solemn procession in the afternoon officially kick off the feast of the miraculous image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu, the Holy Child Jesus.

Except for a small motorized banca that sank during the fluvial procession participated in by at least 200 vessels, no other accident was recorded during crowded fluvial parade and the solemn foot procession that lasted nearly six hours.

Elements of the Philippine Coast Guard immediately rescued the passengers of the banca that sank at the height of the fluvial procession.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia who both joined the parade lauded the Cebuanos and non-Cebuanos who woke up early in the morning just to show their love and devotion to the Sto. Niño.

“But these are all worth it because St. Niño also loves and cares for Cebuanos,” the governor said. Devotees started to gather at the pier at 3 a.m. carrying images of the Child Jesus.

In his homily during the Pontifical Mass for the Grand Sinulog celebration, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said that “ee need one another, the city needs the province, the province needs the city.”

Palma, also the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), was referring to the good working relationship between Governor Garcia and Mayor Rama.

Palma lauded Garcia and Rama, saying their good relationship is a sign of unity, thanking Sto Nino for all the blessings He bestowed throughout the year.

“We hope the unity will be spread throughout the country not only in Cebu,” said Palma.

He appealed for unity in the executive, judiciary and legislative branches of the government.

Palma said he believes that by unity and collaboration, leaders can make productive projects that will benefit country and people.

The CBCP president also urged the devotees to pray to the Sto Nino so that the Christ Child will continue to “guide us and nourish our family and the youth.” He lauded the millions of devotees who joined the procession Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, police, security guards and Cebu Ports Authority personnel were deployed inside and outside the Cebu City port to maintain peace and order.

The 6.8-kilometer solemn procession in the afternoon, which usually takes four hours, lasted for almost six hours this year after it was stalled in eight points within the procession route.

Cebu City Police Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe said the procession was generally peaceful, without any untoward incident, despite the estimated 2.5 million people who joined and witnessed the religious activity.

The crowd this year is doubled compared to the crowd of at least one million in 2011, Buenafe said.

Sunday, the clear and sunny weather attracted more devotees to the parade route of the Sinulog Festival, and police said this year’s parade gathered a record crowd of at least 3 million revelers.

The rainfall forecasted by the weather bureau did not materialized both on Saturday and Sunday, prompting revelers to gather around the parade route and at the Cebu City Sports Complex where the Sinulog dance contest took place.

Rama extolled Cebuanos to remain faithful and devoted to the Sto. Niño, who has been protecting Cebu from calamities and other tragedies. As he welcomed tourists and local revelers, Rama also urged the public to remain calm and orderly to make the festivity more meaningful and peaceful.

The mayor told Cebuanos: “This is not our Sinulog alone but to everybody including visitors, tourists and even the smallest members of our society.” He added people can expect “fantastic and exciting” Sinulog 2012.

Fiesta crowds started to gather in the streets as early as 5 a.m.