As part of the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Bacolod Diocese, a Jubilee Pilgrimage Walk will be held on Feb. 5 from assembly points in Bacolod City to the San Sebastian Cathedral and Paglaum Stadium, Vicar General Msgr. Victorino Rivas said yesterday.

He said students and faithful from the different parishes in the diocese are expected to join in the Pilgrimage Walk which will converge at the Paglaum Stadium for the launching of the Caritas-Bacolod.

Also known as the “Alay Lakad for Caritas-Bacolod”, Rivas said participants' registration fee of P10 will be donated to Caritas-Bacolod, the office that will take charge of distributing relief needs to calamity victims in the diocese.

He said the activity is the church's way of building the discipline of charity among the young and to encourage them to show concern for the weak and the poor in the community.

After the Pilgrimage Walk, a Mardi Gras will be held at the Bacolod City Public Plaza from 5 p.m. until midnight , Rivas said.

The event, which will feature Negrense showbiz celebrities and festival dancers from different cities in the province, is an introduction to 40 days of prayer, penance and alms giving-charities for the Season of Lent, he said.

Rivas added that a midnight countdown for Lent will be held, afterwards, all festivities will come to a halt. Celebrations of patronal fiesta in towns and cities will also be moved after Easter Sunday, he added.

Meanwhile, as part of the Jubilee celebration, the Diocese, in coordination with the court, will help prisoners process their release or pardon papers, Rivas said.

Tracing the historical and religious background of Jubilee celebrations, he said that it is the time to condone debts, release prisoners or free those in bondage.

In reaction, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales said that he is ready to assist the diocese by ordering the review of the status of cases of prisoners and release those who are entitled to it.

He said this will also decongest jails.

Vice Governor Isidro Zayco welcomed the initiative to release prisoners, saying the Negros Occidental provincial government spends P20 to P25 million for personnel, food allowance and maintenance of the Provincial Jail.*NAB

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