The Sinulog Festival is one of the most dignified, most colorful, and most famous festivals in the Philippines. It is a ritual expressed through dance and costumes in commemoration of their conversion from paganism to Christianity.
The feast is especially dedicated in honor of Cebu’s patron, Santo Niño or the Holy Image of the Child Jesus. It is celebrated every third Sunday of January. The celebration lasts for nine days, which culminates on the Sunday.
The Fluvial Parade is held before the feast day. At dawn, the image, laden with flowers and candles, is being carried on a pump boat along the Mactan Channel and ended in the Basilica where the re-enactment of the Christianization of Cebu took place. In the afternoon, the major streets are overcrowded with devotees as they participate in the solemn procession which actually last for several hours.
The celebration is concluded by a Pontifical Mass on the following day, attended by no other than the Cardinal itself and several bishops in Cebu. After the mass is the most anticipated happening, the fabulous display of Sinulog dances.
History
On April 7, 1521, a Portugese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan took dominion of Cebu as part of the territory of Spain where his loyalty lies. He planted the cross which now known as the “Magellan’s Cross” as a sign of the successful conversion of the natives from paganism to Catholicism and were eventually baptized.
As a baptismal gift, Magellan presented the image of the child Jesus, Sto. Niño to Hara Amihan, the wife of Rajah Humabon who was then the chieftain of Cebu. Hara Amihan was later named Queen Juana, in honor of the mother of Carlos I.
As soon as Queen Juana took hold of the image, she was overjoyed and started to dance, embracing the image of the child Jesus. Other natives followed her and thus the first Sinulog was conceived.
The scheme of actions were used in most Sinulog dances where Queen Juana, holding the sacred image of the child in her arms as the other dancers bowed down to it as a sign of reverence to the sacred image. The raising of the child symbolized Queen Juana blessing her people who are sick and possessed by demons and other evil spirits.
44 years later, after Magellan’s expedition and his tragic death, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrived in Cebu and seized the control of the land from Rajah Tupas. In one of the burning huts, Juan Camus, one of Legaspi’s soldiers found a wooden box with the image of Sto. Niño. It was believed that the natives have long left their anito worships, instead they continued dancing the Sinulog.
The Augustinian friars who traveled with Legaspi promulgated the miraculousness of the image and constructed a church in the exact place where it was found. The church was called San Agustin Church but was later changed into a Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.
What makes Sinulog and its Mardi Gras a stand-out spectacle?
Aside from its colorful costumes and energetic dancers, Sinulog is known for the similarity in dance steps and of course, the unique interpretation of what actually happens. The forward-backward movement consists the Sinulog dance, which is usually two steps forward and a step backward. It is especially categorized as Sinulog-base, Free Interpretation but recently included in Latin category.
The forward-backward movement resembles the water current movement. The name “Sinulog” was derived from the word “sulog” or water movement. The sound is unique and catchy with the accompaniment of native gongs, drums and other band instruments.
It is believed that the dance steps have its origin from Baladhay, Rajah Humabon’s adviser. The former was sick and Humbon was in grief. He ordered his men to bring his adviser in the chapel where Santo Niño was enthroned.
In such a short notice, Baladhay was seen dancing and shouting. When asked about what happened, Baladhay justified that he saw a small child on top of him trying to wake him up. Instead of being dumbfounded, he scared the child away with his shouts but unexplainably, he was dancing like movements of the river.
Believing that the Holy Child wants them to dance the forward-backward movements, it is being employed in every Sinulog dance. Even the vendors at the Basilica are using the steps when lighting a candle for the customers.
The festival itself has become a tourist attraction. No wonder extravagance in costumes is evident and only the finest dancers are recruited. The contest extends nationwide, featuring the different places in the country. The contest is usually held in the Cebu City Sports Complex.
The Sinulog Mardi Gras was realized by the Government of Cebu. Incentives are given to each dance groups who participated in the annual festival. The first ever Sinulog Mardi Gras was in 1980 as organized by David Odilao. The concept attracted the attentions of the Cebuanos and then become a yearly event from then on.
In addition, “Sinulog Ng Kabataan”, a smaller version of the main event is performed by the youths of Cebu a week before the parade. It has become an extravaganza as well.
The Sinulog did not only encourage the localities of the province but the practices penetrated to other foreign country especially in Macao. In 2003, the China debuted its Sinulog Festival on January 19. With the support of the Macao Government, the event was a surprise and exceeds the expectations of everybody. It was then decreed that the feast of Santo Niño is finally in Macao.
