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The Sinulog Festival 2015 was a great success. Locals and international tourists converged in the beautiful city of Cebu. All of them enjoy...

Sinulog Festival 2016: Are you ready for it?

The Sinulog Festival 2015 was a great success. Locals and international tourists converged in the beautiful city of Cebu. All of them enjoyed the street parade where participants are wearing in colorful costumes dance to the rhythm of drums and native gongs. Are you ready for the Sinulog 2016?

photo credits to Christian Toledo


Sinulog Festival is an annual cultural and religious festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City. This much-awaited event is to commemorate the Filipino people's acceptance of Christianity (specifically, Roman Catholicism). Its said to be the biggest and most popular festival in honor of the Holy Image of Senyor Sto. Niño.

The festival features street dancing competition, float parade, fluvial procession, beauty pageant, bazaars, concerts and other exciting activities.The streets are generally lined tourists who want to witness the amazing street-dancing. There is also a Sinulog sa Kabataan, which is performed by the youths of Cebu a week before the Grand Parade.

Highlight of the festival grand is the street parade which lasts for 9 to 12 hours (practically the entire day) with participants coming from the different towns and cities of Cebu and from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Participants are dressed in bright coloured costumes dancing gracefully to the rhythm of drums, trumpets and native gongs. 

Sinulog is came from the Cebuano word "sulog" which is "like water current movement. Traditionally, the dance consists of two steps forward and one step backward which accompanied by the sound of the drums. 

According to history, Sinulog was already celebrated by the locals in honor of their wooden statues during the pre-colonial period. Later on, the image of Sto. Nino was introduced by Spaniards and was brought to Cebu. 

People are shouting  petitions and thanksgivings to the Santo Niño, “Pit Señor! Señor Santo Niño."Shouting is necessary for the pilgrims in a belief they will be heard by the Santo Niño.

Meanwhile, there are news stating Pope Francis and thousands of Church leaders around the globe are coming to Cebu for the Sinulog 2016. There's no yet confirmation if Pope Francis will return to Philippines in 2016. 

Meanwhile, Aside from Sinulog Festival, other festivals in the country are held also in honor of Sto. Nino like Ati-atihan Festival and Dinagyang Festival.  


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