IT WAS a dimlit morning of the Sinulog Grand Parade yesterday, but the heat turned harsher by the hour.
Ian Tanjay and his wife Cinderella did not budge as colorful dancing contingents, floats, higantes, and puppets from the streets rolled on.
They stood on the sidewalk outside the Carreta cemetery with nephew Ethan Michael Grecia, 13, and nieces Bea Mae Yatan, 11, and Jasmine Achumbre, 11, in tow.
“First time ni sa mga bata nga motan-aw. Ganahan sila manan-aw sa mga artista (It’s the kids’ first time to watch. They want to see celebrities),” said Ian.
Cinderella, Ian and Jasmine brought their smart phones to capture their favorite television and movie stars.
They attended the mañanita mass at the Basilica del Sto. Niño at 4 a.m. The Tanjays have been attending the mass in the past six years because they have a request to the Holy Child.
“Hatagan na unta mig anak (We hope we’ll be granted a child),” said Ian, who married Cinderella in 2005. Two
years later, doctors removed the cyst in one of Cinderalla’s ovaries, affecting her ability to give birth.
“Motuo ko nga naay mga milagro (I believe in miracles),” said Ian.
They woke up at 2 a.m. They traveled around 15 kms. from their home in Liloan to Cebu City.
The crowd screamed and shouted at the sight of Coco Martin, Jericho Rosales, Jennylyn Mercado, basketball legend Benjie Paras, Dionisia Pacquiao and other celebrities. Jasper Go-od, 12, accompanied his friends Francis Roldan Angga, 10; Gian Carlo Baguio, 8; and John Niño, 3, in waiting for Martin, their favorite lead actor from the television action-packed drama, “Ang Probinsiyano.”
“Idol!” Go-od shouted after seeing Martin.
He said he is inspired by Martin’s character, Cardo. The boy dreams of becoming a police officer someday.
Gloria Limjap, 41, said her daughter Mikaela, 8, requested her to take pictures of the celebrities.
Limjap said she has a Facebook account, but she could not post her pictures after the network signal was cut off.
Cambinocot Barangay Captain Rey Lauron said the village joined the parade for the first time.
“Amo ning halad (This is our offering),” he said. “Mangindahay ang mga mag-uuma sa bukid nga maayo ang ilang mga abot (Farmers in the mountain hope for good harvest).”
El Niño and La Niña hit the farmers last year. Tropical depression Auring and the low- pressure area last week destroyed crops in Cambinocot.
Lauron encouraged junkies who surrendered in Oplan Tokhang to farm.
Renato Novero, 68, went to the streets again as the Grim Reaper, brandishing a scythe. The shield he carried bore the message “Just say no to drugs” below the image of the Sto. Niño.
A resident of Calamba, one of the barangays in Cebu City heavily affected by drugs, Novero said he is happy with the police anti-illegal drugs campaign.
“Nadakpan gani to akong mga silingan ug nakuhaan silag P15 milyon nga drogas (Even my neighbors were arrested and P15 million in drugs where seized from them),”
Novero is referring to the arrest of Christie Ocañada Diongzon, 37; Meralyn Macapal Monreal, 23; and Eduardo Tesing Ramos, 36, last Jan. 3.
“Nahurot-hurot na ang mga pusher sa amo (Most pushers are now gone),” he said.
Novero smiled, showing his missing teeth. He then danced to the Sinulog beat with his out-of-rhythm steps.