OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY     IPIL'S PIT SENIOR GENERALLY SUCCESSFUL   Considered as the local version of the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City, Barangay Tirso Babiera in the municipality of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, held its annual ‘Viva Pit Senior!’ celebration and declared it successful on Sunday, January 15. Every 3rd Sunday of the month of January every year, devotees of the Senior Sto. Niño in Ipil join the traditional parade and procession of the ‘Viva Pit Senior!’ sponsored and facilitated by the residents, church leaders, devotees and Barangay officials of Barangay Tirso Babiera. This year, hundreds of devotees flock around the vehicles carrying the image of Sto. Niño and shouting to their hearts out in the tune of the Pit Senior soundtrack. The procession started at the assembly area in Tirso Babiera, with a mass. The fluvial parade and procession followed and different sizes of the image of the Sto. Niño were toured around the heart of the commercial town of Ipil. People from all walks of life danced to the tune of the ‘Pit Senior’ music and shouted “Pit Senior Tabangi Kami!”. People covered with black body paints also filled the streets of the town as they roam around the highways and roads of Ipil showing their devotion and offering their lives to their Patron Saint Senior Sto. Niño. According to Tirso Babiera Barangay Chairman, the celebration was already embedded in the lives of the people in the municipality and devotees had considered it as their ‘Panata’ to join the procession and parade every year for the rest f their lives. The celebration this year was seen as a very successful kick-off and a great religious success which a good way to start the year. “It was very successful and we are very happy that our people continue to appreciate and observe this celebration every year and we are gaining many supporters and devotees every year which is a good sign to start the year right by asking the grace and blessings of Senior Sto. Niño”, stated Burgos. After the parade, people went to their homes with the hope and inspiration that their acts and deeds, the Almighty would give them the strength and wisdom to make the year fruitful and blessed.