The Sinulog is an annual festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City, Philippines. The festival honors the child Jesus, known as the Santo Niño, patron of the city of Cebu. It is a dance ritual that commemorates the Filipino people’s pagan past and their acceptance of Christianity.
The festival features a street parade with participants in bright-colored costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumpets, and native gongs.
Being the largest event of Cebu province, Sinulog festival is also tagged as one of the most colorful festivals in Asia today. The Sinulog celebration traditionally lasts for nine days, culminating on the final day with the Sinulog Grand Parade. The day before the parade, the Fluvial Procession is held at dawn with the Santo Niño carried on a pump boat from Mandaue City to Cebu City, decked with hundreds of flowers and candles. The procession ends at the Basilica where a re-enactment of the Christianizing of Cebu is performed. In the afternoon, a more solemn procession takes place along the major streets of the city, which last for hours due to large crowd participating in the event.
Below are the upcoming Sinulog tentative schedule of activities
January 9, 2009 (Friday)
Sinulog 2009 Kick off / Launching (Sinulog Through the Years photo exhibit at Ayala Center Cebu, SM City Cebu and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport)
- 2pm – Solemn Mass (Basilica del Sto. Niño)
- 3pm – Launching Parade (from the Basilica del Sto. Niño to the Cebu City Sports Center a.k.a. Abellana)
- 7pm – Opening and Launching Program featuring the Mandaue City Children’s Choir, Dancesports Team Cebu, and Dance Troupes from participating schools and universities in Cebu (Fuente Osmeña)
January 10, 2009 (Saturday)
Sinulog sa Kabataan – Lalawigan (Sinulog of the children of Cebu Province)
- 1pm – Parade of Participants (from the Cebu Provincial Capitol to the Cebu City Sports Center a.k.a. Abellana)
- 2pm – Event Proper: Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan (Cebu City Sports Center a.k.a. Abellana)
- 4:30pm – Awarding of Winners (Cebu City Sports Center a.k.a. Abellana)
- 7pm – Cultural Show by the Department of Education, Cebu Province (Fuente Osmeña)
- 9:30pm – Concert by Street Party Bands (Fuente Osmeña)
January 11, 2009 (Sunday)
Sinulog sa Kabataan – Dakbayan (Sinulog of the children of Cebu City)
- 1pm – Parade of Participants (from the Plaza Independencia to the Cebu City Sports Center a.k.a. Abellana)
- 2pm – Event Proper: Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan (Cebu City Sports Center a.k.a. Abellana)
- 4:30pm – Awarding of Winners (Cebu City Sports Center a.k.a. Abellana)
- 7pm – Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)
- 9:30pm – Concert by Street Party Bands (Fuente Osmeña)
January 12, 2009 (Monday)
- 7:30pm – Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)
- 9:30pm – Concert by Street Party Bands (Fuente Osmeña)
January 13, 2009 (Tuesday)
- 7:30pm – Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)
- 9:30pm – Concert by Street Party Bands (Fuente Osmeña)
January 14, 2009 (Wednesday)
- 9am – Airport Welcome for Balikbayan Flights (Mactan-Cebu International Airport)
- 7:30pm – Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña)
- 9:30pm – Concert by Street Party Bands (Fuente Osmeña)
January 15, 2009 (Thursday)
- 9am – Airport Welcome for Balikbayan Flights (Mactan-Cebu International Airport)
- 7pm – Miss Cebu Coronation Night (Cebu City Waterfront Hotel and Casino)
- 7:30pm – Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña)
- 9pm – Concert by Street Party Bands (Fuente Osmeña)
January 16, 2009 (Friday)
Visual Merchandising Contest (Department Stores and Malls in Cebu)
- 7:30pm – Cultural Shows by the Department of Education, Cebu City (Fuente Osmeña)
- 7:30pm – Handumanan “The Concert” (SM City Cebu)
- 8pm – Balik Cebu Welcome Party for Balikbayans and Guests (Ayala Center Cebu)
- 9pm – Concert by Street Party Bands (Fuente Osmeña)
January 17, 2009 (Saturday)
- 6am – Fluvial Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño together with Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mactan Channel; starting point: Ouano Wharf, Mandaue City)
- 9am – Re-enactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon (Basilica del Sto. Niño)
- 2pm – Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño)
- 6:30pm – Sinulog Festival Queen 2009 (Cebu City Sports Center)
- 7pm – Street Party (Fuente Osmeña and Plaza Independencia)
- 8pm – Kasadya Nite Mardi Gras (Ayala Center Cebu hallways; culmination at the South Surface Parking Area)
January 18, 2009 (Sunday)
Sinulog 2009 Grand Parade
- 9am – Sinulog 2009 Grand Parade Carousel Kick Off
- 7pm – Grand Fireworks Display (Cebu City Sports Center a.k.a. Abellana and Plaza Independencia)
- 7:30pm – Concert by Street Party Bands (Fuente Osmeña)
- 8pm – Grand Fireworks Display sponsored by the Mitsumi Group of Companies (Ayala Football Grounds)
January 19, 2009 (Monday)
- 1pm – Awarding Ceremonies (Cebu City Sports Center a.k.a. Abellana)
January 31, 2009 (Saturday)
- 1pm – Awarding Ceremonies for the winners of the Sinulog 2009 Photo Contest and Sinulog 2009 Video Documentary Contest
Febuary 1-10, 2009 (Sunday to Tuesday)
- Photo Exhibits: “The Winning Photos taken during Sinulog 2009? (SM City Cebu)
Above stated schedules are still tentative.
