Adto na 'ta

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 prepa...

January is one of the busy months for Catholics as religious festivals kick off beginning with the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene tomorrow January 9, 2013.  The Black Nazarene will leave its home which is the Quiapo Church for a procession in the Quiapo District of Manila and other nearby areas such as the Luneta . Other  Black Nazarene statues will also be in the procession so that they will be formally blessed.  Today is the 'Pahalik sa Poong Nazareno"  During this ceremony, devotees can touch or kiss the Poong Nazareno or wipe Him with their hankies.  The Poong Nazareno is believed to be miraculous and have granted many prayers and petitions. The Black Nazarene is a life-sized statue of Jesus carrying a big cross which is a symbol of his passion and sacrifices. It is originally from Mexico and was brought here to Manila in the 17th century.  The statue used to be fair in complexion however, it turned black after the ship that was ca...