How to make the most of the Sinulog revelry

By Cebu Network
Published January 10th, 2008

On the third week of January, Cebu City will again celebrate the Sinulog–one of the grandest and most colorful festivals in the Philippines. Festivities officially open today with a religious procession before dawn.As city streets erupt into a rainbow of colors in festive anticipation of the solemn procession on January 19 and Cebu Grand Parade on January 20–among the highlights of the month-long festivity, organizers have come out with the following guidelines to make your Sinulog celebration the most memorable ever:

• Make sure you have a schedule of activities for the month-long celebration. Among the activities that will be held in line with the Pista Señor (Feast of the Señor) are religious and cultural activities, street parties at Fuente Osmeña, Ms. Cebu beauty pageant, Cebu Pop Music Festival, fluvial and foot processions, and search for Festival Queen.
• You can brave the throng and watch the grand parade in the streets or you can choose to do it from the comfort of grandstand seats at the Cebu City Sports Center. Buy your tickets from authorized agents of the Sinulog Foundation Inc., which holds office at the sports center. Tickets are available at the following prices: 550 pesos, 450 pesos, and 350 pesos (inclusive of welcome bags). If the 12,000-seat capacity grandstand is full, don’t fret because bleachers will be built at some points along the 4.3-kilometer parade route.
• Dolly Suzara, Sinulog project director, says contingents are now required to perform their routines at the grand parade twice, once in the morning and once in the early afternoon, and to carry all their props.
• Do apply lotion and wear wide-brimmed hats, protective clothing, sunglasses to protect you from harmful UV rays; bring a handy fan, a face tower or two; drink lots of fluids to prevent heatstroke. Light-colored shirts can offer relief from the sun’s heat, although Cebuanos usually don black t-shirts and wide-brimmed straw hats for the grand parade.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes or sandals because, with most of the streets closed for the parade, you’ll be doing a lot of walking.
• To set a festive mood, feel free to put on fashion accessories but leave valuable jewelries at home. This early, stalls or booths along Osmeña Boulevard, at the Plaza Independencia, and outside the Basilica del Sto. Niño sell cheap shell and wooden accessories that you can use during the festivity.
• Watch over what you eat. Booths and stalls selling inexpensive cuisine will sprout all over the place. Be circumspect with what you pick and where you buy it. You don’t want to spoil the celebration with an upset stomach, right?
• Depending on the number of contingents, the Sinulog Grand Parade usually kicks off around 9 a.m. It is best to hit the streets early so you will little difficulty finding your way through the crowd.
• Never forget to bring some identification cards, in case of emergencies.

Hotels and pension houses are now fully-booked for Sinulog week. If you still do not have a reservation, you can try calling those listed in our directory of Cebu pension houses and hotels.

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