Sinulog Festival

It’s January, it’s a brand new year and just 2 weeks from now, Cebu City and Cebu Province as a whole will be celebrating the Sinulog Festival. It is an annual event held every 3rd Sunday of January in honor of Señor Santo Niño (child Jesus).

picture taken from http://www.sinulog.ph/

A day before the Grand Parade, there is a Fluvial Procession of the miraculous image of Santo Niño which is carried by a pump boat from the the waters between Lapulapu City (where the mother, Mary is the patron saint [Virgen dela Regla de Milagrosa]) and Mandaue City (where the earthly father, Señor San Jose is the patron saint) to Cebu (where the child Jesus’ Basilica is situated).

Sto Niño de Cebu

Fluvial Procession (image via google)

Today and on the next several days, Cebu City government and the Cebu Provincial government are/will be very busy for the upcoming festivity. This is one of the biggest events (I think, the biggest) in the Philippines. Based on tradition, the event begins with a 9-day Novena Mass in Basilica del Sto Niño and culminates on the 3rd Sunday of the year (this year, it falls on January 15th) where there will be street dancing, dance competition (in Cebu City Sports Complex), a giant (higante) parade, float parade, parade of some of Philippine’s celebrities, and people, lots and lots people in all walks of life, local and tourist alike.

Scene during the Novena masses at Basilica Minore del Santo Niño (picture from Wikipedia)

IPI Float --photo taken from http://blogs.sunstar.com.ph/sinulog/gallery/

Prior to the Grand Parade, there are also a lot of activities lining up and some of those activities are the Sinulog Idol, Miss Cebu Coronation Night, Sinulog Sa Kabataan and Cebu Chess Festival. To see more, click here

Meet the Sinulog Idol Finalists

The Sinulog Idol Finalists (photo taken from: http://blogs.sunstar.com.ph). Click on the image to redirect you to the image source page

Meet Miss Cebu Candidates

Click on the image to see more images (photo credits: http://mycebuphotoblog.wordpress.com)

If you want to witness Sinulog, it’s about time to book your room accomodations to some of the hotels in Cebu, Philippines.

Enjoy and Viva Pit Señor!

*Note: For non-Catholics, you will enjoy the Grand Parade just the same!

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Hotels in Cebu | Cebu FAQs | Cebu | Shopping Malls in Cebu | Where to Book | Places of Interest | Mandaue City | Sinulog Official Website | Sinulog Schedule of Activities

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Also happening in January in honor of Sto Nino:

Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City

Ati-atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan

Sto Nino Festival in Tondo, Manila