SINULOG FESTIVAL 101
Sinulog Festival is one of the biggest and most popular festivals in the Philippines. It is held annually, on the 3rd Sunday of January in Cebu City to honour the Sto. Niño (or the child Jesus).
The Festival is characterized by a grand and very long parade of groups of people with colourful costumes, choreographed dancing of the parade participants to the lively beat of the drums and native musical instruments, and beautifully designed floats for the thousands of showcased images of Sto. Niño. The parade is also full of loud chanting and shouting of praise to Sto. Niño as the people believes that the louder they shout, the more the Sto. Niño will hear their prayers. Lots of natives and tourists lined the streets to watch this colourful parade. It is also a pretty good day for street vendors, taking advantage of the hype and celebration to sell food, souvenirs, and other items.
Not to be mistaken to the Ati-Atihan festival in Panay, the Sinulog traditional and ritual dance consists of two steps forward and one step backward motion, done to the beat of the drums.
The festival is actually a nine-day celebration. The parade is the highlight of the Festival and is held on the last day (falls on the 3rd Sunday of January). Other festival activities include the fluvial parade or procession of the Sto. Niño and the re-enactment of the acceptance of Roman Catholicism during the Spanish era.
One of our fellow Wellingtonian, photographer Alan Raga, was able to capture Sinulog 2011. Check out the photos here.
History and Origin of the Festival
It is said that the origin of this festival can be traced from the celebration that took place after the baptism of the first Filipino Roman Catholics in Cebu way back in the 1500s. In gratitude and acceptance to Sto. Niño, the locals danced Sinulog.
Origin of the Word
The word Sinulog came from the Cebuano word “sulog” which means “like water current movement.” The forward-backward movement of the Sinulog dance clearly shows a water current-like movement.
Sinulog Festival Celebrations All Around the Globe
Most Filipinos, although already living in different countries still celebrate this event. Whether it is a big or small gathering of Pinoys overseas, the main highlight of the celebration is always the parade of people holding and dancing their Sto. Niños to the beat of the drums.
Additional Information
Back in Manila, in parallel to the Sinulog Festival, another festival (or fiesta) is also being celebrated – the Sto. Niño festival or Pista ng Sto. Niño in Tondo. Thousands of spectators flock Tondo’s main road, Juan Luna St., to watch the parade full of floats, thousands of Sto. Niño images (dressed in different kinds of costumes), loud chanting and people dancing to the beat of the Ati-atihan drums. Each year is grander and better than the last year. The parade finishes in front of the Sto. Niño Parish Church, where a mass is held after.
Lastly, check out this Youtube video to get a glimpse of last year’s Sinulog Festival in Cebu.
Article: PinoyStop
Photos: Alan Raga!
