THE Sinulog, the mother of all festivals, has matured over the years. It has given birth to many smaller town festivals all over and across the island Cebu.
Not many of us know that the Sinulog street dancing and parade started in 1980. So this year’s celebration was a milestone because the Sinulog commemorated the 30th year of honoring Cebu’s beloved Holy Child, the Sto. Nino de Cebu.
The Niño is a happy, playful and fun-loving child. Ever since the beginning, the mardi gras style paradet has displayed it all—from street dancing contingents, to colorful floats, to amusing papier-mache higantes (giants) and many more.
This festival has created an identity for the Cebuanos. It has augmented the people’s religious and cultural values.
The Sinulog dance embraces the religious, cultural and historical aspect of how Cebuano’s as a people give honor to the Sto. Niño. Every year with the Sinulog, people see history unfolding through prayer and dance.
Thousands have seen and thousands will come to witness the event next year. This phenomenon has been well documented in many ways as in photography and paintings (at an exhibit in SM City Cebu). There is even a photo contest every year to capture the fever as well as the spirit of this event.