Cebu’s streets reverberate with ‘Pit Senyor!’

CITY DANCERS The contingent of the Cebu City government joins the Sinulog Festival culminating event on Sunday as a noncompetition participant to the grand parade staged in honor of the Señor Santo Niño de Cebu, the Catholic patron saint of Cebu. —EMMANUELLE SAWIT

CITY DANCERS The contingent of the Cebu City government joins the Sinulog Festival culminating event on Sunday as a noncompetition participant to the grand parade staged in honor of the Señor Santo Niño de Cebu, the Catholic patron saint of Cebu. —Emmanuelle Sawit

CEBU CITY, Philippines — People from all walks of life came in droves here on Sunday to watch the grand street parade of the Sinulog Festival, considered among the grandest and most attended festivals in the country.

Many waited along the streets while others stayed at the Cebu City Sports Center in Osmeña Boulevard where 45 dancing contingents performed the ritual showdown along the beat of the drums and the cries of “Pit Senyor!” or “Long live Señor Sto. Niño!”

Of the number, 13 came from provinces and cities outside of Cebu, including a group from South Korea which offered a dance presentation.

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Grand winners in the two categories—Free Interpretation and Sinulog-based—would receive P3 million each. The first and second runners-up in each category will get cash prizes of P2 million and P1.5 million respectively.

Among the out-of-town contingents were from Antipolo, Albay, Kidapawan City in Cotabato, Sarangani province, Dinagat Islands, Dipolog City, Davao Occidental, Zamboanga City, Siargao, Bais City and Dumaguete City.

Like the group from South Korea, Bacolod City’s famous Masskara Festival also joined as guest performers.

Aside from the 16 dancing contingents, the Sinulog 2025 also drew 61 floats, 10 higantes (giants made of papier-mâché) and 14 puppeteers.

No political speeches

Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said they invited a number of “VIPs” (very important persons) to the festival, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., but some did not make it. The President was represented by Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr.

Several senators and senatorial aspirants also came over to attend the Sinulog. However, the local government strictly prohibited any politicians, whether incumbents or aspirants, from delivering speeches.

Garcia earlier ordered that no one would be allowed to deliver speeches on the Sinulog stage.

Ritual prayer

The mayor delivered a short speech where he announced there would no classes in the city on Monday, Jan. 20.

Sinulog, which has been celebrated for 45 years here, started as a ritual prayer and dance to the Sto. Niño or the Holy Child Jesus, whose image was given as a baptismal gift by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to Cebu’s Queen Juana in 1521. The icon is enshrined at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu in the city’s downtown area.

The dance later became a cultural celebration, drawing millions of people to Cebu during the Child Jesus feast day, held every third Sunday of January.

Lt. Col. Maria Theresa Macatangay, spokesperson for the Cebu City police, said the crowd was manageable despite the influx of people.

“We already anticipated the surge of people, especially since the downtown area (where the Sinulog is held) is more accessible,” she said in an interview.

Side by side the Sinulog were the different religious activities in honor of the Sto. Niño.

‘Pilgrims of hope’

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, in his homily during the 6 a.m. Pontifical Mass at the basilica on Sunday, stressed that the Sinulog and religious activities for the Fiesta Señor should be rooted in the Child Jesus.

“What we have in Cebu is both a religious and cultural fiesta. If there is no Sto. Niño, there is no Sinulog. The Sto. Niño should always be present in both aspects,” the prelate said.

Palma called on the people to put their hope in the Lord amid all adversities in life.

“The Sto. Niño is our hope. We have experienced several challenges in the past, the COVID-19 pandemic and the many typhoons, among others, and yet we survived these difficult situations. We survive and I know we will all thrive,” he said.

“We are pilgrims of hope. We are assured that if we hope in the Lord, this hope will not disappoint, because this is a fruit of God’s love. In life’s journey, there are problems but nothing can separate us from the love of God. Let us hope for good things to come and be instruments of hope to others,” he added.

The thousands of Devotees, who spilled over to the streets surrounding the church, watched the Eucharistic celebration through large LED screens and television monitors installed around the basilica.

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