CEBU CITY SPORT CENTER--I was here the whole day yesterday for both radio and television coverage on the 35the annual Sinulog parade where the finale of all participating contingents was held. The fear that the annual celebration might be disrupted by heavy rains brought by tropical depression Amang did not happen. The weather was very fine and it was sunny and hot the whole day. There was no sign of weather disturbance until the event culminated with the fireworks display at the
grandstand last night.
I have been covering the Sinulog Grand Parade for several decades and as far as I can remember there was no instance that the event was disrupted by a heavy downpour.
Sometimes it would rain but only for a few minutes. That’s how miraculous our Sto. Niño is. It is His fiesta so maybe He does not want the festivities to be disrupted. According to Pag-asa as of noon yesterday, the temperature reached 28.6 degrees Celcius.
Some 45 contingents participated, 21 of which vied for the Sinulog-based competition, while 23 vied for the free interpretation category. This year’s Sinulog Grand Parade had the most number of participants compared to last year because of the two major calamities that hit the region. Bohol was hit by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake and Leyte and Samar provinces, including northern Cebu, were devastated by super typhoon Yolanda. Big companies and corporations that used to sponsor dancing contingents instead used their budget for relief and rehabilitation projects for survivors of the two calamities.
Yesterday’s grand parade was preceded by a mass at the Cebu City Sports Center officiated by Msgr. Roberto Alesna and was attended by Sinulog chairman Mike Rama and other city councilors and City Hall department heads who were first to perform on stage together with City Hall dancers as a guest contingent. Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale also attended the mass, while Gov. Junjun Davide III, his wife Jobelle and other provincial officials escorted the province’s contingent that also performed as a guest performer. Mayor Rama said the event opened around 9 a.m. The mayor then inspected the entire parade route. He was really hands on in monitoring the entire event, assuring that everything would be smooth and there’d be no hitches.
As I was about to go up the improvised stage under the grandstand where our radio remote broadcast facility was installed, a familiar face signaled to me, pointing to a lady sitting at the corner beside the stage of the official sound system. I recognized him later. He was Pedrita, the long-time “alalay” of former governor Gwen Garcia. The woman whom Pedrita was pointing to was Gwen.
I did not recognize Gwen because she had bowed her head, seriously listening to the mass. Seeing her, I extended my hand to her. We shook hands and I asked her if she was going to dance. She said, “Yes.” I said, “Good luck, ma’am.” Gwen led the San Diego dancers performing on stage as a guest contingent. That was the first time I met Gwen in person after she was suspended as governor and she was elected as the third district representative in the 2013 elections. She has kept a low profile until now.
Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of the Sinulog Foundation Inc, said that almost all of the contingents, especially the perennial winners, have adopted innovations in their concept, footsteps and overall performance. There were new participants this year, but out-of-own top contenders and crowd favorites like Tangub City, Alang-Alang and Abuyog, Leyte and of course our own local favorite Lumad Basakanon still participated.
Bigger prizes awaited the winners. The grandstand was filled with spectators and it was very orderly on the ground this time because of the presence of marshals and barricades that prohibited spectators on the ground from going near the stage. Only photographers who were positioned in front of the stage disrupted the view of the spectators beneath the grandstand.
Over-commercialization has always been the issue during Sinulog festivities. Well, the event can’t survive without the support of the private sector, especially the business community. Where can participating contingents get their financial support for their customers, props and provisions during the practice up to the actual presentation?
Prizes cannot even offset the expenses incurred. The business sector will gladly provide financial support provided that their products are highlighted and showcased.
That is why we can see advertisements and merchandizes during parade. Even local government units that participated in the event also got support from donors and patrons in the private sector.
Sinulog is a cultural event and the participation of the business community makes it more colorful. Imagine if it’s all a religious event. It would be boring.
On the peace and order aspect, there were no major incidents reported. But as usual, some were victimized by pickpockets. Kudos to the police headed by OIC Cebu City Police Office Director S/Supt. Condrad Capa and to the organizers of the Sinulog.
Until next Sinulog. Pit Señor!
(bobby.nalzaro@yahoo.com)