Last Sunday, Cebuanos celebrated the largest and grandest feast in Cebu. A traditional, religious and cultural festival in honor of Sr. Sto. Niño. It is in this time where we can see street dances, parades, large floats, and festivities all over downtown. Every bend of the streets is so congested that cars are unable to pass. Every year, Cebuanos, especially my family, look forward to this celebration. However, due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19, we have been unable to hold a large celebration for the past two years. Cebuanos continue to celebrate it, albeit in a religious and humble manner.
SINULOG 2022
Last Saturday, @thegoodbi ‘s Jessa, Rich from @lakwatserangthik and I (Jaya) went to Basilica Minore Del Sto. Niño to light a candle and say our prayers to Sr. Sto. Niño, but sadly, the church is closed due to the preparation of the Grand Mobile Procession of the image of Sr. Sto. Niño. So we decided to just simply pray beside the church instead.
There are a lot of devotees waiting outside the Basilica for the passing of the image of Sr. Sto. Niño.
There are still the usual site of street vendors selling statues clothes and other souvenirs of Sr. Sto. Niño/ Sinulog.
We passed by a seller of puto bumbong and bought some. I love eating it every Sinulog.
During the Grand Mobile Procession, there are a lot of devotees who went outside of their houses just to see the image of Sr. Sto. Niño.
They also brought their statues of Sr. Sto. Niño outside. Some lighted candle and wave their hands when the procession passed them.
The Mobile Grand Procession was broadcasted live via the Facebook page of Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño. Since the procession won’t pass by our house, I just watched the procession thru that live.
I have also attended the novenas before this day via Facebook live too.
The next day, the actual Sinulog day, my parents bought some food and wine to celebrate it. Our uncles and neighbors had some beer. I also went to Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño but the line was too long so we’ve just bought some candles beside the church instead.
SINULOG THROWBACK
I know a lot of people misses the pre-covid Sinulog celebration. Thus, I want to show you how we used to celebrate this festival every January.
During the 9-day novena, I always make sure I can go to Basilica to attend the novena mass. I always make sure to complete the novena to thank Sr. Sto. Niño for keeping my family healthy and safe and to say some wishes for this year.
On the feast day, 3rd Sunday of January, since cellphone signals are turned off due to safety reasons, my family automatically meets at my Aunt's office which is located in Osmeña Blvd., the Sinulog parade will pass in front of their office so their company always prepare a big stage for their employees and their family to stay.
You can clearly see the street dances, big floats, celebrities there.
We always walk from our home to my aunt's office just to see the parade (around 2.8 km).
We sometimes wear same shirts.
We sometimes cut our shirts, have some henna tattoo and color our hair and skin to really feel the festive vibes. Prititit <3.
In the afternoon, we will go home where my parents and some of my uncles and aunts prepare dinner for all of us. After dinner, we go out to meet our friends, some goes to Ayala to watch a firework display, while others stays home, have a drink, sings the videoke or dance the night away.
I really wish that we can go back to how we celebrated Sinulog before but with or without it, I am still amazed at how strong the devotion of the Cebuanos is to Sr. Sto. Niño and that is something I'm proud of.
Viva Pit Senyor!
Here are some pics of Jessa with her friends too, enjoying the display of the fireworks competition in SM. Parties are also held around the city, left and right. Cebu City downtown area was really loud and festive before pandemic came. Hope we can experience those times again.
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