Have a blast in one of the vibrant, dynamic and most sought after festivals in the Philippines that is celebrated every 3rd Sunday of January in Cebu City. Experience first-hand the Sinulog Festival this 2014 and prepare yourself for a heart-pumping, out of the ordinary festival celebration where you can dance your heart out, conquer the heat of the sun and simply have a great time.

What is Sinulog?

Photo by Constantine Agustin

Sinulog is a street dance tradition yearly distinguished and celebrated to give utmost tribute and respect to Sto. Niño. The term “Sinulog” actually originated from the Cebuano word which signifies “like the flowing water”, an expression which perfectly illustrates the forward-backward motion of the accustomed Sinulog dance.

Highlights of Sinulog Festival

Sinulog showcases every year an extensive parade of street dancers wearing diverse costumes with colourful hues dancing to the upbeat music of drums, gongs and trumpets. Habitually, the merry-making continues for 9 days and finishes extravagantly thru the Sinulog Grand Parade. The day prior the closing event, a procession is done early in the morning where the statue of Sto. Niño is being carried. The procession commences usually in Mandaue City and concludes at the Basilica with the dramatization as to how Cebu was Christianized. Furthermore, more than just the street dances, there are many open markets, games, artistic and cultural presentations and a motorcade.

 Schedule of Activities

January 9, 2014: Opening Salvo: Walk with Jesus

• 04:00am – Assembly at Fuente Osmeña
• 04:30am – Start of Walk at Fuente Osmeña Boulevard to Basilica del Sto. Niño
• 05:30am – Installation of Hermano and Hermana Mayores 2014

January 10, 2014: Sinulog 2014 Kick Off

• 02:00pm – Solemn Mass (Basilica del Sto. Niño)
• 03:00pm – Launching Parade (Basilica del Sto. Niño to CCSC)
• 07:00pm – Opening and Launching Program at Fuente Osmeña
• 08:00pm – Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
• 09:00pm – Street Party Bands

January 11, 2014: Sinulog sa Kabataan – Lalawigan

• 01:00pm – Parade of Participants (Capitol Site to Cebu City Sports Center)
• 02:00pm – Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan (Cebu City Sports Center)
• 06:30pm – Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)
• 07:00pm – Ms. Cebu 2014 Presentation (Ayala Activity Center)
• 08:00pm – Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
• 09:00pm – Concert at Fuente Osmeña , Street Party Bands

January 12, 2014: Sinulog sa Kabataan – Dakbayan

• 04:00am – Cebu City 2014 Marathon – www.cebumarathon.com
• 01:00pm – Parade of Participants (Plaza Independencia to CCSC)
• 02:00pm – Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan (Cebu City Sports Center)
• 06:00pm – Grand Finals of Sinulog Choral Competition
• 06:30pm – Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)
• 08:00pm – Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
• 09:00pm – Concert at Fuente Osmeña , Street Party Bands

January 13, 2014

• 06:30pm – Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)
• 08:00pm – Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
• 09:00pm – Concert at Fuente Osmeña , Street Party Bands

January 14, 2014

• 06:30pm – Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)
• 08:00pm – Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
• 09:00pm – Concert at Fuente Osmeña , Street Party Bands

January 15, 2014

• 09:00am – Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
• 06:30pm – Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)
• 07:00pm – Ms. Cebu 2014 Coronation Night (Waterfront Lahug Hotel)
• 08:00pm – Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
• 09:00pm – Concert at Fuente Osmeña , Street Party Bands

January 16, 2014

• 09:00am – Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
• 06:00pm – Balik Cebu, Welcome Party at Ayala Center Cebu
• 06:30pm – Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)
• 06:30pm – Sinulog Festival Queen Runway Competition and Photoshoot
• 08:00pm – Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
• 08:00pm – Handumanan at Ayala Terraces
• 09:00pm – Concert at Fuente Osmeña , Street Party Bands

January 17, 2014: Visual Merchandising Contest (Department Stores and Malls)

• 04:00am – Walk with Mary (Fuente Osmeña to Sto. Niño)
• 09:00am – Solidarity Meeting (All Competing Contingent/Floats/Higante/Puppteers) at CCSC Gym
• 06:00pm – Sinulog Dance Crew and Musicfest Grand Finals (Cebu City Sports Center)
• 07:30pm – Sinulog Festival Queen 2014 (Cebu City Sports Center)
• 08:00pm – Cebu Popular Music Festival (Cebu Coliseum)

January 18, 2014

• 06:00am – Fluvial Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño
• 09:00am – Re-enactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon Basilica del Sto.Niño
• 02:00pm – Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño
• 07:00pm – Sinulog Fireworks Competition (SM City Cebu)
• 07:00pm – Street party (Fuente Osmeña and Plaza Independencia)
• 08:00pm – Kasadya Nite Mardi Gras (Ayala Center Cebu)
• 09:00pm – Musicfest Grand Finals

January 19, 2014: SINULOG GRAND PARADE

• 04:00am – Mañanita Mass (Basilica del Sto. Niño)
• 06:00am – Pontifical mass with His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal
• 09:00am – Sinulog Grand Parade Carousel Kick Off
• 07:00pm – Grand Finale and Grand Fireworks (Cebu City Sports Center)
• 07:30pm – Street Party Bands (Fuente Osmeña)

January 20, 2014

• 01:00pm – Awarding Ceremonies (Cebu City Sports Center)

January 24, 2014: “HUBO”

• 04:00am – “HUBO Mass” Ritual (Basilica del Sto. Niño)

January 25, 2014

• 01:00pm – Screening of Finaslists Short Film/Video Documentary Contest
• 01:00pm – Sinulog 2013 Photo Contest Winners Exhibits
• 06:00pm – Awarding Ceremonies Photo Contest and Video Documentary Contest

February 3 – 10, 2014: Photo Exhibits “Winning Photos Sinulog ’14 (SM City Cebu)

History of Sinulog

Looking back, Sinulog was a customary dance performed by the natives of Cebu to pay homage to their wooden-made statues which they worshipped as Gods during the time when Philippines was not yet colonized by the Spaniards. When the Spaniards came to take over Philippines, the icon of Sto. Niño was then launched to Cebu and thereby started the birth of the Catholic faith in the area of Cebu.

Reminders

Since Sinulog is a popular religious festival among local and foreign tourists alike, you have to book your plane tickets and hotels as early as 2-3 months before the actual celebration date or else you might regret having to pay overly expensive airfares and worst you might end up having no place to stay since hotels usually become full-booked even a month before the event.
Don’t forget to enjoy, take as much candid photos and souvenirs as you can to fully have a worthwhile sweet escape on the week of the festivity.