(Tips are usually in Italics)
VIVA!
It’s once again the Festival dedicated to Sr. Sto. Nino that contributed to the inception of Christianity in the Philippines and defined Cebu.
Cebu, known as the Queen City of the South, is famous for the Sinulog Festival that gives tribute to the young Jesus, Sto. Nino, which was brought by the Spanish people (via a statuette) that was led by the Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan.
Sinulog is annually held on the 3rd Sunday of January: Grandiose floats and costumes plus fluid-like dances, true to the name ‘Sinulog’ that came from the Cebuano word ‘sulog’ meaning ‘like the movement of the water’; this is culminated on the last day of the 9 day celebration.
Every year, there are plenty contestants coming from different places in the Philippines contending to win for the best dance interpretation to win in the Sinulog Contest. The Grand Parade will first have to show off the contestant’s dance interpretations in the streets of Cebu City leading to Abellana which will be the arena to show off their fab dances to the judges.
Everyone from various places, Filipinos or Foreigners alike enjoy the mardi gras that gives the best street dance feel due to the loud drum beats that make you move and shout ‘PIT SENYOR!’. Even children are held on their parents’ shoulders to let them see the colorful parade on the streets.
SINULOG 2014
Probably the most crowded Sinulog I’ve ever attended, and also everyone’s opinion.
There are a lot of sight sees that you’ll enjoy in every corner of the city. You’ll have to enjoy every painted faces to street dances people do. Also, henna tattoos are a trend too, and everywhere you go; there are people who cater to giving you that Sinulog vibe.
Fuente Circle is one of the best places to go during daylight; which you can visibly see every float passing by. Some with famous local celebrities that usually defined what is like being a Filipino. But most floats have extraordinary designs. Ahead of the floats are their dancers who usually make stops to some spots to offer a dance to street judges.
People could also try to roam around starting at Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino, (Sto. Nino church) dance your way to the crowd at Jones Street reaching Fuente Circle.
The wonderful floats go all the way from morning until the evening. And right after every contestant is done; there the fireworks begin.
I personally enjoyed this year’s Sinulog because it was not sunny at all; everyone loves the sun, and I do, but sometimes it’s just too painful out there; but not this year, it’s purely cloudy, it drizzled in a while but did not bother everybody at al.
I noticed the trend of GoPro cameras nowadays that takes videography, photography and selfies to the high level… literally.
AYALA FIREWORKS
Every spot in the city; there’ll be fireworks.
One in Abellana, right after the last contestant is done with their presentation: another one is in Crown Regency in the heart of the city, one at SM City Cebu and the most celebrated and waited is the Ayala Center Cebu Fireworks.
Ayala is not just famous for their mall, but for their annual Sinulog fireworks show that costs them thousands to millions of pesos. But not just that; Ayala Fireworks is famous because of their unique and spectacle show.
They don’t just show you explode here and explode there kind; you will see heart shaped blasts or Saturn shaped or a smiley: all you need to do is ready your camera and tick at the right time when it explodes.
The extravagant firework show always ends up in a humongous firework blasts that lights up the entire vicinity that gives magnificence to everyone that is watching.
If you’re wondering where I had my dinner; Ayala is a perfect place to go. BUT, there’ll be less chance to dine perfectly and fast there. My partner and I ate at Simply J’s Restaurant. I purposefully did a reservation ‘just in case’ we can’t dine in Ayala, and that was the case. But the place is miraculously almost deserted when we arrive there.
There are couple of affordable restaurants just within the vicinity of Ayala mall for you to dine yet not be able to miss their grandiose fireworks show like Simply J’s, Kuya J or Rodeo Grill.
SINULOG NIGHT LIFE
Then the real party begins!
Everyone works their way in Mango Avenue to party! If you ever want to get wet and wild then this place is surely for you. Just make sure you’re ready to get down and dirty because the crowd will be crazy.
Baseline, Alchology, and Yo.u are the bars that you usually hear where the party is to the extreme. Bottles of alcoholic drinks are surely on the grounds wherever you go. Everyone you’ll see is surely drunk when the clock hits 12 for sure.
That surely was the most crowded because I encountered problems passing through Mango Street but nevertheless… still alive!
VIVA, PIT SENYOR!
Sinulog 2014 was crazy.
Next year would be another blast, for sure.
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