Viva Pit Senor: The Cebu Sinulog Festival
The Cebu Sinulog Festival is an annual mardi gras of colorful costumes and pomp street dancing, in commemoration of the time when the first Filipinos embraced Christianity, or Catholicism to be specific.
This happened in Cebu, Philippines way back in 1521, when the great Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived and planted the cross on the shores. It was said that when Magellan presented an image of the baby boy Jesus (the Sto. Nino image) to the island’s ruler, Rajah Humabon and his wife Hara Amihan, the natives performed their dance ritual.
Thus the basis of what is today’s Sinulog street dancing -- with participants in various costumes all in vibrant colors, matched with a lively beat of music (check out the video, a great youtube find -- kudos to Jerrold Tarog who made this). The Sinulog dance step is easy to follow -- two steps forward and one step backward, and a few steps to the left and right movement.
The best Sinulog Short Documentary Film I’ve ever seen!
More Sinulog Photos after the jump!
The Cebu Sinulog Festival draws tens of thousands of visitors from the Philippines and the rest of the world. It is actually a 9-day festival, with solemn novena processions, fluvial parade at the Cebu-Mactan strait, Miss Sinulog pageant, street dancing contests in different categories and many more.
It’s a different experience when you’re actually part of the fun and merry-making. When I was small, my family used to put up a big bleacher along Jones Avenue, where we could easily watch every dancing contingent that passed by.
So if you want to experience Sinulog as well, better block out the third (3rd) Sunday next year and book an early flight and hotel accommodation in Cebu.
Check out these cool photos of the Sinulog Festival (these are photos from the 2008 Sinulog). More on http://www.flickr.com/photos/sinulog/.
Photo Credits: cebudaily.com and sinulog.ph
Sinulog Themes: Listen to the Sinulog beat!
Check out myMusicnook.com for more Sinulog beats
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Viva Pit Senor: The Cebu Sinulog Festival | Sinulog Videos and Photos | Bloggista.com…
The Cebu Sinulog Festival draws tens of thousands of visitors from the Philippines and the rest of the world. It is actually a 9-day festival, with solemn novena processions, fluvial parade at the Cebu-Mactan strait, Miss Sinulog pageant, street dancin…
Medyo napaaga ako sa Cebu nung December 26-29 andun ako sayang! Di bale next time sana makaattend ako. Andun ka ba?
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bloggista Replies:
January 19th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Wasn’t able to go bro, pretty tied up with so many things at the office. Maybe next year, perhaps we can all plan next year’s trip early. Hehe.
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Ambo Replies:
January 19th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Wow good idea yan kapatid! Plan natin next year mga bloggers sa Sinulog! What do you think?
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dito ka ba nagpunta ung nagpahinga ka bro?
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bloggista Replies:
January 19th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Hindi bro eh. Talagang pahinga lang yun. Goodluck on your new domain.
. Maybe you can go with us next year. It’s a different experience – even not religiously, just the festivities.
Good thing I found a YouTube video that exactly shows what you would experience in the actual Sinulog. Even just looking at the videos, it gave me goosebumps and nostalgic feelings.
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okay yan bro! sana nga next year kumikita na tayo para may funds tayo for the trip,
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I last watched the Sinulog live 16 years ago pa, when we were yet ROTC cadets.
Never watched it since then.
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bloggista Replies:
January 19th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
LOL – i remembered during that time, one of the duties being an ROTC cadet is to help the city govt on “crowd control” during Sinulog. We were usually stationed in Mango Ave. I’m not sure if the street parade still pass by that route.
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naku roel! when i was assigned in cebu doing audit and everything, dahil nga dami naming clients there, i was able to attend this pit senor 2 or 3 times siguro and it was uber fun. the 1st one ko was uber shocking saken with so many people.
meron din kami sa bicol, penafrancia but never attended one dahil an dami tao dun and one time, tragedy nang tragedy dun pero etong pit senor is really beautiful and i could see na mas improved na kamo sila these days
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bloggista Replies:
January 19th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Just like Ceblogger, it’s been a while since I watched it. Maybe next year let’s al go there – LOL, gawa tayo social network tapos set natin event. Wahehe.
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I miss going to the streets of Cebu and dance to this very familiar beat. I used to join that parade when I was still in Cebu. My school was on of the contingents for the parade few years back.
I miss this festivity. It never fails to be remarkable.
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