Saturday, January 12, 2008 ‘For the first time it rained hard’
EVEN in ordinary days, a walk from the Basilica del Sto. Niño to the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) is enough for one to bathe in sweat.
But not yesterday, when the City Government and Sinulog Foundation Inc. officials, and dancers from 15 Cebu City schools ignored the rain for the Sinulog 2008 opening.
Rain-drenched most of the way, the dancers sashayed, bobbed and smiled to the crowd lining along Osmeña Blvd., as they did their routines to the Sinulog beat blaring from giant speakers along the way.
“Sagdi lang padayon lang mi, nabasa na man gyud mi,” said Ace Canilao of the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT), as he stood in the rain during the mass at the Basilica del Sto. Niño Pilgrim before the parade.
The parade carried the theme “Sinulog goes international” and had various schools showcasing the dances and costumes of selected countries and US states.
CIT, representing Hawaii, garbed its female students in flower-themed garments that showed their backs.
Wet and shivering from cold, Annette Mondano said she did not mind the rain and considered their situation as their way of paying homage to the Infant Jesus.
“Para man sad ni sa Sto. Niño (This if for the Sto. Niño),” fellow CIT dancers Lucy Marie Canton and Mitchel Sy said.
“Wala man, okay ra (This is nothing),” said a University of San Carlos (USC) dancer when asked if she was cold.
Ricky Ballesteros, Sinulog Foundation executive director, said that while it drizzled in past Sinulog launchings, yesterday was the first time it rained hard.
He and other foundation officials led by Vice Mayor Michael Rama also braved the downpour, which abated a little as the parade neared the CCSC.
At the CCSC, the waiting crowd roared to welcome the contingents.
University of San Carlos students in international costumes opened the program. They were followed by the Abellana National School (Australia), University of Cebu (Brazil), Constancio Memorial School from Daanbantayan town (Cambodia), University of Cebu Biokenetics (Guam), Asian College of Technology (Korea), CIT (Hawaii), Cebu Doctors University (India).
Other schools included the University of Southern Philippines (Indonesia), Salazar Colleges-Science and Institute of Technology (Russia), Velez College (Saudi Arabia), Cebu State College of Science and Technology (Scotland), Cebu Normal University (Texas), University of the Visayas (Southern Philippines), and University of San Jose-Recoletos (Spanish influence in the Philippines).
Rama officially opened the Sinulog celebration, which will have 16 elementary and high schools from Cebu province vying in today’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan.
Elementary category
In a separate interview, Dolly del Mar said those joining the elementary category are the Marigondon Elementary School (ES); Kabulahan sa Mandaue (City), Maguikay ES; Alcoy Siloy Festival, Alcoy (town) ES; Pundok Sarokanan, Tugbungan ES, Consolacion town; Pajo ES, Lapu-Lapu City Division; Apo sa Magbabaol nga Talisaynon, Tabunok ES; Cordova Central ES; and Bonakan ES of Madridejos town.
Joining the national high school (NHS) category are Sta. Felomina NHS, Alegria town; Carmen NHS, Cogon West, Carmen town; Tabunok NHS, Talisay City; Lumad Mandauehanon, Mantawi Integrated Dance Company; St. Peter Academy, Alegria town; Liloan NHS; Oslob NHS; Silaw-silaw Culture and Arts, Carcar Central NHS.
Alcoy will be the contingent to watch out for in the elementary category, as it is the defending champion.
It would be interesting to see what Pajo and Cordova, which respectively placed second and third last year, will present to dislodge Alcoy.
Not one among last year high school category winners are joining this year. (RHM)
