The Sinulog Fever

After the ASEAN Summit, Cebuanos were all excited for the coming of what is known as the “Festival of All the Festivals”, the Sinulog. Sinulog is celebrated during the 3^rd Sunday of January. This is one of my favorite festivals.

During the coming of Sinulog, my family and I, have a devotion to the Blessed Child, Sr, Santo Niño, that we will attend mass in the Basilica Minor del Santo Niño during the “vesperas” that is held before the fiesta. Usually we attend the mass in dawn. The mass has been very solemn and I can see a lot of devotees that was once touched by the Holy Child. What I like most in that part of the mass is the singing of the “BatoBalani sa Gugma”. The song really touches my heart and I feel like I’m going to cry because I realized how grateful I am because of the blessings and graces he had given to me. For all the years, Sr. Santo Niño didn’t leave me behind in times of trouble and has always been there to guide and protect me and my family from danger. What I just wanted to ask from him is good health and in good social and family relationship. In addition, it makes me happy that a lot of balloons will be freed by people who have wishes written in a paper attached to its strings.

Many activities took place during the “Vesperas”. Some of these activities are the fluvial parade, solemn procession that is ended by a mass in the Basilica Minor del Santo Niño. The fluvial parade has been one of the most awaited parts of the Cebuanos where the Blessed Child together with his mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe, reaches the shores of Cebu that started the spread of Christianity in the Philippines. These two religious figures are placed in a yacht or boat and are being turned over to Mandaue where they meet San Jose, the Blessed Child’s father, where there is a reunion of the Sacred Family. This has been a very nice moment for all the Cebuanos who were there in the wharfs and pier to witness this event. There is also a reenactment of the first Baptism that is held in the basilica with the Blessed Mother and Child. This activity will end in the morning and the people will have to take their rest for another religious activity they will be attending in the afternoon which is the solemn procession.

In the solemn procession, people will have to walk the long streets of Cebu City together with Sr. Santo Niño. Not like the fluvial parade where there are lots of boat in the channel, the procession on the other hand has the many devotees of the patron saint of Cebu just like in Quiapo. The final destination of the said procession will be on the basilica where a mass is held in the presence of the Archbishop of Cebu, Reverend Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. This mass will reveal the many devotees of Señor Santo Niño including those outside of Cebu.

On that next day, a grand Mardi gras is celebrated where the people offer a devotion to Señor Santo Niño through dance. Sinulog Dance has been known to be two steps forward and one step backward. This step is very symbolic because for every regress there is twice the progress. A lot of people join the Sinulog Dance where they dance starting in the busy streets of Cebu that is 4.8 km until they reach the Cebu City Sports Center where they do there greatest performances. I said busy streets because a lot of people do watch this very colorful and exciting parade. There are also creative floats and magnificent giants who will be joining the parade. It really tempts me to go to these places but I can’t due to the presence of numerous people. I am contented to see the full coverage of the said event in the T.V. At least, it is safe and even though I am inside our house, I can still feel the Sinulog fever, the event I am always waiting for during the month of January. Viva Pit Señor!!