Sinulog Festival

It was my first time to see Sinulog Festival in Cebu, Philippines. I never had any idea that I could come and watch this fabulous festival if I haven't been invited by a friend. On the day of the festival I was out as early as 5 o'clock in the morning to take  photos of the participants while they were still preparing and rehearsing their dance steps before the parade. I know I would have a hard time taking photographs of them during the parade, so I took advantage of the capturing them ahead of the said event!

 

Sinulog (pronounced as "See-noo-log") is an annual event held on the third week of January, it's one of the spectacular and grandest festival in the country. A novena is said for nine days before the Grand Sinulog Parade in honor of the miraculous child Infant Jesus. This event is frequently used as basis for most Sinulog dances, which dramatize the coming of the Spaniards and the presentation of the Santo Niño to the Queen. A popular theme among Sinulog dances is Queen Juana holding the Santo Niño in her arms and using it to bless her people who are often afflicted by sickness caused by demons and other evil spirits.

Participants in the said events wore elaborately adorned costumes as they danced to beat of gongs, trumpetsand drums with their customary Sinulog dance moves described as backward and forward movements which is correlated to water current movement wherein the word Sinulog was derived. Sulog (soo-log) in the Cebuano dialect means "water current movement"

Streets were filled up with people rushing to witness the event, food vendors were everywhere, street parties were held in every corner of the city, and photographers were all eager to take pictures of the participants wearing those elaborately adorned costumes.

 

It was one of the most unforgettable festivities I've ever been, the atmosphere was delightful with all those people smiling and dancing to the beat of the drums, gongs and trumpets while shouting "Viva Pit Senyor"!! A chant which means "Sangpit sa Senyor (Call to Senyor), referring to the Infant Child Jesus.