Friday, January 05, 2007 City energy shifts to Sinulog
CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is already tired with the Asean summit preparations but he continued to rally Cebuanos to support the hosting of the event.
Osmeña looks forward to the conclusion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit so the City Government can focus on other big projects this year, including the Sinulog.
“I feel the lack of interest, it’s anti-climactic already. Right now we’re just doing this because it’s our homework, unlike before when we were all excited and our adrenalin was pumping. It’s kind of tiring already,” Osmeña said.
But while the public’s excitement seems to have wavered since the summit’s postponement last month, the mayor said: “Please try not to get in the way of the summit and please don’t contribute to the congestion because it will make it easier and safer for all of us.”
Candidates
After the summit, the City Government will focus on other major projects such as the Sinulog festivities.
Osmeña expects senatorial candidates in the May elections to take advantage of the festival to promote their candidacy. Government officials of Cebu City’s sister-city, Yeosu City in Korea, will also attend the event.
No other sister-city and foreign delegations will be invited to attend the festivities because it will be difficult to attend to guests and security concerns at the same time during the grand parade.
But he said media organizations from New Zealand and Australia might be invited since its citizens are interested in culture and history.
While City Hall prepares for the tourist-oriented side of the festival, the church is raring to start with the religious activities as well.
Two more attractions were added for the 441st Fiesta Señor—a singing contest and the Basilica del Sto. Niño’s own exhibit of the different images of the Sto. Niño.
This year’s theme is “Sto. Niño de Cebu-Batobalani sa Gugma: Living the Spirituality of Stewardship in the Year of Social Concerns.”
On Jan. 10, the winner of the “Huniño” songwriting contest will be hailed, while the Sto. Niño exhibit will be opened.
Songs
“Huniño” stands for “huni nga halad alang kang Sto. Niño” or a song offered to the Child Jesus.
Fray Leo Mario Singco, OSA, said they have selected 12 finalists from 122 entries and these have been compiled in an album.
The album is sold at P350, and proceeds will be donated to the Basilica del Sto. Niño Children’s Welfare Foundation.
The songs will be presented in a program on Jan. 10 at the Pilgrim Center. The grand winner will be awarded P50,000.
“We want to promote our devotion to the Sto. Niño and singing enhances that devotion...singing and dancing are expressions of prayer and praise to our Lord,” said Singco.
The religious festivities will officially open on Jan. 11 with a dawn penitential foot procession from Osmeña Blvd. to the basilica.
From Jan. 10 to Feb. 2, the basilica will also host the exhibit dubbed “Sto. Niño Jesus: From Cebu to the entire Philippines.” (JGA)
