A million people show up for Sinulog solemn procession

By Cebu Network
Published January 22nd, 2008

LOOKING TO THE HEAVENS FOR BLESSING. A child, clutching two Santo Niño images, joins the hundreds of thousands in the Sinulog solemn procession, held a day before the festive grand parade.

Thousands of devotees carrying Sto. Niño images in various shapes and sizes attended the solemn procession that preceded the grand parade during Cebu’s celebration of the Sinulog Festival last January 19 and 20.

The two events are among the three highlights of the month-long Sinulog celebration in Cebu City in January. One other is the fluvial procession, also held on Saturday but at dawn.

The rains did not stop people from attending the procession that started at 1 p.m. At the start of the line were altar boys and priests, Knights of Columbus members, and a group of physically handicapped individuals.

A FLOOD OF COLORS. Rains did not stop the hundreds of thousands of Santo Niño devotees from joining the Sinulog solemn procession last January 19. Click on photo to enlarge.

Since it was raining, the procession, viewed from atop, looked like a sea of red, yellow, blue, green, pink, orange, and purple umbrellas.

The head of the procession at 1 p.m. was at Osmeña Boulevard near the Ludo-Luym building. When the procession head arrived back at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño at past 2 p.m., it caught up with those at the end who were still unable to march due to the large number of people that attended.

About a million people showed up to follow or watch by the sideline the replica of the Sto. Niño icon that was brought to Cebu nearly five centuries ago as it was held aloft in a glass cart for a 1.7-kilometer solemn procession.

However, only some 200,000 devotees, including seniors and children, braved the drizzle and wet and muddy streets and endured the 1.7-kilometer walk.

Among those who joined the procession were Cebu City officials, led by Mayor Tomas Osmeña, and college students in their school uniforms.

Sinulog solemn procession from Cebu Network on Vimeo.

Thousands joined the Sinulog solemn procession on January 19. Thousands more were at the sidelines, watching devotees recite prayers as they paraded in downtown Cebu City.

Along the stretch of the procession route were altars displaying replicas of the Sto. Niño.

During the pontifical mass held after the procession ended, the murder of a priest in Tabawan, Tawi-Tawi last Tuesday was highlighted.

Bishop John Du said in his homily that people need to live in truth and honesty like a child amid all lies and trials.

Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador, who estimated that close to a million people showed up for the procession, said no major problem was encountered, although some people who fainted or whose blood pressure levels rose were taken to first aid stations.

Sinulog religious procession from Cebu Network on Vimeo.

More photos of the procession (click on the images to view larger photographs):

2 Responses to “A million people show up for Sinulog solemn procession”

1. Cuba Travel Guide » Uncategorized » A million people show up for Sinulog solemn procession says:
   1February 9th, 2008 at 10:46 am

   [...] The rains did not stop people from attending the procession that started at 1 p.m. At the start of the line were altar boys and priests, Knights of Columbus members, and a group of physically handicapped individuals. Continue reading ‘A million people show up for Sinulog solemn procession’ [...]

2. Dexter says:
   2February 11th, 2008 at 7:56 am

   wow this is great page buddy! i have lived and work in cebu in 1997 but after that panagsa ra ko makalaag diha. i missed the sinulog festival and i am hoping that one day maka tempo ko sa ako bakasyon sa sinulog…..thanks fo rsharing this….

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