Filipinos in Macau celebrate Sinulog Festival

MANILA -- Filipinos in Macau celebrated Sinulog Festival on January 20, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.

The festival, organized by the Santo Niño de Cebu in Macao Association, was held at the Tap Seac Park in Macau and this was the 13th year that the group held this festivity.

The Sinulog Festival started at 11:15 a.m. with a Holy Mass at the Salesiano Chapel, followed by lunch for the participants. A procession with street dancing proceeded at 2:30 p.m. The stage program started at 4 p.m. at Tap Seac Park, with four Macau Government offices -- Cultural Affairs Bureau, Central Library, Historical Archives, and Tap Seac Gallery, located just across.

The stage program was graced by the presence of Macau Legislative Assembly Deputy Chan Meng Kam. Also present were Consul General Danilo Ibayan, who was Guest Speaker, Consul Raul Dado, and Philippine Overseas Labor Office (Polo) Officer-in-Charge and Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration (OWWA) Welfare Officer Ramon Lamberto Pastrana, who delivered an inspirational message.

The highlight of the stage program was the Sinulog Dance Contest. There was only one entry in the children's category, while five entries, three from Macau and two from Hong Kong, participated in the adult category.

An entry from the Macau group won with its graceful rendition of the Sinulog dance, complete with bamboo poles for the use of the "Queen" and her entourage, and revolving around the story of a group of native bandits who were converted to Christianity by the miraculous powers of the Santo Niño. The program lasted until late at night with dancing after the program proper ended.

The Santo Niño de Cebu in Macau Association scored a big coup, in terms of promoting Philippine tourism in Macau and projecting a good image of the Filipino community, the DFA said. (SDR/Sunnex)