DESPITE being one of the grandest and most-anticipated festivals in the country, the Sinulog grand parade has seen both dramatic growths and drops in the number of participants in the past 12 years.
In 2007, the Sinulog Foundation Inc. recorded 50 dancing contingents. The following year, the number rose to 51.
But in 2009 and 2010, only 44 participants joined the grand parade.
In the next two years, however, the SFI saw a surge in contingents and had 49 participants join the ritual showdown.
It was in 2013 when organizers began to see fewer participants, with only 40 joining the event.
The number continued to drop and, in 2014, there were only 36 dancing participants, the lowest number of contingents until recently.
The number, though, increased as 44 dancing contingents competed in 2015.
In 2016, 12 teams did not return to the grand parade, leaving only 32 dancing contingents.
The year 2017 had the least number of participants at 23.
It was also this year that crowd favorite and perennial champion Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe of Tangub City performed and won their last Sinulog-based routine before going into hiatus.
Last year, there were 30 participants.
On Sunday, Jan. 20, there will only be 24 dancing participants in the grand parade.
Contingents
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, Sinulog executive committee chairman, attributed this to budget constraints brought about by inflation.
Tumulak assured, though, that the grand parade would still be of top-notch quality.
“Instead of being sad about it, we will just focus on what we have. What is important is that we are offering this to Señor Sto. Niño,” he said.
On Sunday, there will only be nine contingents for the Sinulog-based (SB) category, including defending champion Carcar City Division, that will vie for the grand prize.
Other contingents in this category are Hugpong Kabatan-onang Mananayaw sa Sapangdaku; Inayawan Talent’s Guild Cultural Dance Troupe; Banauan Cultural Group of Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City; Pundok Day-asanon sa Sugbo; Sining Sto. Niño Folkoric Troupe of the City of Bogo; and Murcia, Negros Occidental.
The Talisay City Division and Banay Labangon, this year’s Sinulog sa Lalawigan and Sinulog sa Barangay sa Dakbayan respective champions, will also compete in the SB category.
Meanwhile, Tribu Kandaya of Daanbantayan will also defend its title against 14 contingents in the free-interpretation (FI) category.
Other contingents include Tribu Higaonon of San Nicolas Proper; Mambalinganon Performing Arts; Banay Talamban; Lumad Basakanon of Basak San Nicolas; Tribu Mabolok-on of Mabolo; Tribu Suba-anon of Barangay Suba; Tribu Masaulogong Calerohanon of Sawang Calero; Pundok Cogonanon of Cogon Pardo; Tribu Ginatilan; Tribu Malipayon of Consolacion; Placer, Surigao del Norte; Province of North Cotabato; Tribu La Caturba III of San Nicolas Proper; and Liloy, Zamboanga, del Norte.
Last year, there were 12 contingents in the SB category and 18 contingents in the FI.
In a related development, four schools in Cebu City are preparing to accommodate grand parade contingents.
Out-of-town contingents, including those that come from the province, will be staying in these schools, including the Regino Mercado Elementary School in Barangay Pahina Central, that have been identified as billeting areas.
Marianilva Hermosa, Regino Mercado school principal, said they already requested additional portable toilets as the contingent from Liloy, Zamboanga del Sur is expected to arrive on Thursday, Jan. 17.
The school will also accommodate the contingent from the Talisay City Division.
The City Health Department inspected the school last week and conducted a misting operation. (RVC)