The Sinulog Festival of the Island of Cebu

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This weekend is a festive time for Cebuanos as well as all devotees of the Senor Santo Nino all over the country.   In Cebu, where the biggest festival in honor of the Senyor Santo Nino is held annually, people are going to chant Pit Senyor! and dance on the streets for 10 hours.  There will be a street dance competition where participants will be wearing colorful costumes and do the trademark dance steps as they compete against each other.   More than the prize money that the winner gets (which is really a big sum) it is paying homage to the Senyor that is important and adds meaning to the entire activity.




The Sinulog Festival is a like the mother of all festivals that is celebrated on the 3rd weekend of January annually in the Queen City of the south which is Cebu, and is located in the central part of The Philippines.  The city spends almost the entire year preparing for the festival so there seems to be no end in it. That's how extensive the preparation is.   The  final day of the festival, which really lasts for 9 days, begins with a fluvial procession where the Santo Nino statue is carried from Mandaue City to Cebu City.   From the fluvial parade, the statue then goes back to its original residence which is the Basilica and  a short reenanctment of the Christianizing of the natives is held after.


Feasts in honor of the Santo Nino, is simultaneously held in different areas of the country such as in Tondo, Manila and in Surigao City.   Santo Nino is the term given to the Infant Jesus statue that was brought to the country by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.   It is said to be miraculous that's why there are a lot of devotees all over the country.  In many business establishments and households, a smaller version of the the image is displayed to bring in more graces and blessings.




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