In addition to the road closure and rerouting announced yesterday, May 21, the city government of Makati through the Makati Cultural Affairs Office (MCAO) issued a press release announcing the traditional Flores de Mayo procession this Friday, May 23.

The procession will start around 4pm from the City Hall to J.P. Rizal Street, left turn to Nicanor Garcia St. (Reposo), left turn at Kalayaan Avenue, right turn at Makati Avenue going straight towards Greenbelt 3 to the Sto. Niño Chapel.

The Makati Public Safety Department has advised motorists that the procession will only take up one lane of the said streets so that vehicles can still pass through. Its traffic enforcers will be deployed along the procession route and at intersections to manage traffic flow during the procession.

Prior to the procession, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay together with Representatives Mar-Len Abigail Binay-Campos and Monique Yazmin Lagdameo will lead the coronation of this year’s Mayflower Queen, commercial model Georgina Wilson. Next will be the recognition of some 60 princesses (sagalas) and their escorts at the Makati City Hall Quadrangle. The sagalas represent the barangays in District I and II and participating business establishments.

A group of senior citizens forming a ‘human Rosary’ will be positioned at the corner of Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas to meet up with the Mayflower entourage, and will lead the procession up to the Sto. Niño Chapel, where the participants will offer bouquets to the image of the Blessed Virgin Mother.

Besides hosting the venue, Ayala Land, Inc. will also provide snacks for the participants. Establishments represented in the Santacruzan include Berjaya Hotel, Dusit Thani Hotel, Holiday Inn & Suites, The Peninsula Hotel, Makati Cinema Square Merchants Association, Rockwell Land Corporation, and SM Makati.

The Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May) Festival or Santacruzan is one of the most celebrated events in May in the city and throughout the country. The procession is said to depict the search of St. Helena for the cross of Jesus Christ and gives honor to the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), it was first introduced to the Filipinos by Spanish friars in 1854. (Story by: Makati ICRD)