One beat. One dance. One vision.

FINALE AND PREVIEW. A finale to the Sinulog and a preview of sorts to the Asean summit, a production number that required close to 1,000 dancers fills the Cebu City Sports Center stage with a riot of colors. (Sun.Star Cebu/Alex Badayos)

When you celebrate this feast of feasts in Cebu City, share your stories and pictures with us. The Sun.Star website has devoted a whole section to the celebration and a special page for your experiences. E-mail your stories with your photos to sunnex@sunstar(dot)com(dot)ph and sunnex1@sunstar(dot)com(dot)ph. You can also MMS your photos to starts44field@photos.flickr.com. Please include your name and a description of your photo.

Enjoy the festival and Pit Senyor!

SINULOGBITS

Enthroned

Rediscovered by a soldier of Miguel Legaspi 44 years after Magellan gave the Sto. Niño to the natives, the image was enthroned in its shrine on April 28, 1565—thereafter celebrated every year until Pope Innocent XVIII moved the feast to the third Sunday of January, the Epiphany, to take it out of the season of Lent. The enthronement in a shrine, before the construction of the San Agustin church, was celebrated with a solemn procession, a fluvial parade and the Holy Mass said by Fr. Andres Urdaneta. (Sun.Star Weekend, 1999)

SINULOGTIPS
Helpful suggestions to make the most of your Sinulog celebration (click to read)
 
STORIES
 
Star-studded Sinulog
Roger Serna/Sounds & Images

Once again, as in previous years this time of the year, all roads lead to Cebu. Even stars descend to the queen city to add sparkle and glitter to the already dazzling atmosphere of the premiere province in the country.

Among the stars (the ones inhabiting the earth, that is) who are in the line-up of performers in different events and venues for the entire week and excite the mixed crowd in Cebu even more are American Idol finalist Jasmine Trias, broadcaster Tin Tin Bersola, Jay-R, Renz Verano, Jolina Magdangal, Ja Boom Twins, Dice & K9, Mobbstar, Starstruck winners and survivors, SOP Gigsters, singing champs Erik Santos, Mark Bautista, Rachel Anne Go, Jerome Sala, Raki Vega, fast rising and formerly Cebu-based group Cueshe, singer-comedienne Elizabeth Ramsey, the Boyfriends, Pinoy Big Brother housemates Sam Milby, Say, Cassandra Ponti and Rico Barrera, and the sexy chanteuse from Bantayan who is referred to as The Vamp – Verni Varga, to name some.

Homegrown talents such as the sought-after bands, singers and composers including those in the Cebu popfest finals, as well as beauties (the Ms. Cebu candidates and some Sinulog festival queen aspirants) will also give their own share of impressing the crowds.

Hollywood Dream grand winner Julia Clarete will have her farewell performance at Gaisano Main and Gaisano Country Mall this Saturday. She’ll pick the winner in the second grand draw of the mall’s A Million Thanks Family Car Promo before she embarks on that big American dream of penetrating Hollywood.

The list of performers could be endless and the possible fun and anticipation unimaginable. All we have to do is just be in the middle of all these activities so as not to be left out in the cold.

Of course, one needs to take a breather every now and then but just make sure you don’t fall out of pace and rhythm. One effective way to be always reminded of the lined-up events is to activate the organizers or calendars in your cellphones.

It’s one feature that’s very useful whether you tend to be forgetful or simply have many things to attend to. If you still have no idea how to do it, strive to learn to use it fast.

***

It’s good to note that the Sinulog Foundation had ruled that this year’s grand parade participants have to concentrate on the dance routines themselves instead of relying on massive and enormous props and backdrops that, more often than not, overshadow the performance of the dancers.

Years ago, when the Sinulog was still in its early years and the participants were mostly from Cebu, except for a few perhaps, contingents from local colleges and universities most notably Southwestern University had to rely on the beauty of their dance steps, the fluidity and precision of their execution and the energy and passion that their performances exude.

Lately however, out-of-towners introduced those huge props and backdrops (remember the crane of the Parañaque group, the wooden bleachers, the gigantic mirrors and everything that other groups used?) and the scenario was never the same again.

This time, it’s more or less back to basics and the Sinulog dance will be in the forefront again. Let’s see if the past winners will still be dominating the scene or some new and surprise contingents will grab the limelight this time.

The level of excitement continues to build up and soar! Don’t be counted out. Be in and one in chanting ‘Pit Senyor!’

***

The famous Yamato Wadaiko Drummers of Japan’s performance at the Ayala Center tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. is something that yours truly really want to witness.

I’d like to feel the rhythm and witness the drummers’ energy, the stamina and fervor in the performance of their craft and be overwhelmed or even drowned in the process. Can’t you feel the beat?

***

Today is the first Friday the 13th of the year. The second one will be in October yet.

The more superstitious among us for sure will have their predictions and apprehensions. To those who don’t give due attention to this, whether it’s the 13th or any other date, the usual routine goes on.

Is it just a coincidence or simply fate that made the otherwise unpopular date fall on the week when the fervor of Christian faith in Cebu is unusually high or even at its peak with the celebration of the Pista Senyor?

Or is it simply His working to show to all and sundry that no amount of superstition or evil force can outlast or overpower His almighty plans? Pit Senyor!

 
| Section Editors: Mildred V. Galarpe / Michael G. Machacon |