CELEBRATING THE SINULOG FESTIVAL

                                                    SINULOG FESTIVAL IN CEBU

    The famous Sinulog festival in Cebu City is held every year on the third Sunday of January. The festival is characterized by a  very long parade with many groups of persons dressed in colourful costumes, finding their way through the streets while dancing the Sinulog. To distinguish the festival from the popular Ati-Atihan Festival on Panay island,this festival is characterized by a different dance. This Sinulog dance, is now the traditional and ritual dance in honor of Santo Niño. The dance is accompanied by the sound of the drums:  all the time moving two steps forward followed by one step backward. Though the dance is already very old, the parade  is rather young! 1980 was the first year that the parade was organized. 

   The word Sinulog comes from the Cebuano adverb sulog which roughly means "like water current movement;" it describes the forward-backward movement of the Sinulog dance. The dance consists of two steps forward and one step backward, done to the sound of drums. The dance is categorized into Sinulog-base, Free-Interpretation. Candle vendors at the Basilica continue to perform the traditional version of the dance when lighting a candle for the customer, usually accompanied by songs in the native language.

   The Sinulog dance steps are believed to originate from Rajah Humabon's adviser, Baladhay. It was during Humabon's grief when Baladhay was driven sick. Humabon ordered his native tribe to bring Baladhay into a room where the Santo Niño was enthroned, along with the other pagan gods of the native Cebuanos. After a few days passed, Baladhay was heard shouting and was found dancing with utmost alertness. Baladhay was questioned as to why was he awake and shouting. Pointing to the image of the Santo Niño, Baladhay explained that he had found on top of him a small child trying to wake him and tickling him with the midrib of the coconut. Greatly astonished, he scared the child away by shouting. The little child got up and started making fun of Baladhay. In turn, Baladhay danced with the little child and explained that he was dancing the movements of the river. To this day, the two-steps forward, one-step backward movement is still used by Santo Niño devotees who believe that it was the Santo Niño's choice to have Baladhay dance.

   On April 15, 1521, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived and planted the cross on the shores of Cebu, claiming the territory for Spain. He presented the image of the child Jesus, the Santo Niño, as baptismal gift to Hara Amihan, wife of Rajah Humabon. Hara Amihan was later named, Queen Juana in honor of Juana, mother of Carlos I. Along with the rulers of the island, some 800 natives were also baptized to the Roman Catholic Church. At the moment of receiving the holy image, it was said that Queen Juana danced with joy bearing this image of the child Jesus. With the other natives following her example, this moment was regarded as the first Sinulog.

   This event is frequently used as basis for most Sinulog dances, which dramatize the coming of the Spaniards and the presentation of the Santo Niño to the Queen. A popular theme among Sinulog dances is Queen Juana holding the Santo Niño in her arms and using it to bless her people who are often afflicted by sickness caused by demons and other evil spirits.

   Did you know that, natives of Cebu dance Sinulog to worship their anitos (god) during the past, but now, they dance it to show their reverence to the  Santo Niño.

   The Sinulog is an annual festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City. This is to honor the Santo Niño from being a pagan to accepting the Roman Catholicism in the City.

   The main feature is a street parade with participants in bright coloured costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumpets  and native gongs. Smaller versions of the festival are held in various parts of the province, also to celebrate and honor the Santo Niño. There is also a "Sinulog sa Kabataan" performed by the youths of Cebu a week before the parade. Recently, the festival has been promoted as a tourist attraction, with a contest featuring contingents from various parts of the country. The Sinulog Contest is usually held in the Cebu City Sports Complex.

    

   It has been said that this festival or event happening in Cebu became Cebu's most benchmark when it comes to festivals. That is why Cebu having this kind of festival already has its town festival,which later being promoted during the activity of the province called "Pasigarbo sa Sugbo" or Festival of Festivals, an annual contest participated by Cebu towns and cities to showcase their local fiestas with dances.

   It is true, that crowd on that day (Sinulog Day) have  such a big crowd to control, that is why, you need to wear your best gear for this. What you have to do are for the girls: wear your best shorts,best slipper (that one that can't easily be worn out), a hat,most comfortable dress or blouse. For the boys: wear your best sando, short and slipper plus a hat (protection against sunlight). You will have a walkathon, but you will surely have fun while walking as you find it a lot of fun to take a glimpse of the looking at the street dancers( participants of the festival performing in the streets).