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Cebu City Sinulog Festival 2015: Schedule of Events

by Melo Villareal November 13, 2014, 9:53 pm 1.5k Views

Sinulog Festival 2015 Schedule of Activities

Table of Contents

Cebuanos are devout Catholics. This is evidenced by the number of feasts that various barangays and sitios celebrate every month to honor the Holy Family as well as the Saints and give thanks for all the blessings granted to them. But the Sinulog Festival 2015 is one of the most celebrated of all festivals, not only in Cebu but as well as in different parts of the Visayas. Although many other islands and provinces have their own versions of the Feast of Santo Niño, there’s nothing quite like the grandeur and revelry that happens in Cebu City every 3^rd Sunday of January.

Sinulog Festival 2015 photo by Jeshurun Flores via Flickr Creative Commons

Every year, Sinulog Festival organizers make it a point to promote the festival and invite visitors from around the world.

Going down memory lane

Sinulog Festival 2015 reminds the Cebuanos how the first settlers of the islands, with their leader Rajah Humabon and his wife Queen Amihan, embraced Christianity and rejected their former animist beliefs in 1521. The Rajah and his queen were then baptized and given Christian names, Carlos and Juana of Cebu.

Cebu City Sinulog Festival photo by Jonathan Burgos via Flickr Creative Commons

The first Sinulog parade was held in 1980, organized by Mr. David S. Odilao Jr. He round up a number of students, dressed them up in lively costumes and taught them how to dance the Sinulog. The word Sinulog in the dialect was derived from the Cebuano word sulog, which means “like water current movement.” Hence, the Sinulog dance is characterized by forward-backward movements, like that of the waves, in tune with the beat of the drums.

Sinulog Street Dancing photo by Constantine Agustin via Flickr Creative Commons

One of the Biggest Show on the Planet

After the Christmas Season, the streets of Cebu City are embellished with colorful and vibrant decorations, from buntings to life-size floats. When people start to see these décor, they know that the Sinulog Festival 2015 has just begun.

The Sinulog Festival involves various activities held in every corner of the metropolis. There are concerts participated by some of the biggest bands and musicians, both in the local and national scene. There will be a marathon, a trade fair, a beauty pageant, exhibits, parades, dance and singing competitions, street parties, fireworks displays and more. The highlight of the festival though is the Sinulog Grand Parade on the 3^rd Sunday of January. Various contingents from neighboring islands and even faraway provinces will be showcasing their dancing prowess on the streets of the city.

However, the solemnity of the Sinulog Festival 2015 is not forgotten. Apart from all the revelries, nine-day novena masses will be held hourly at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño. There will also be several processions as part of honoring and acknowledging the many wishes that the Child Jesus has granted.

Cebu Sinulog Festival 2015 Schedule of Events

December 01 – January 31, 2015 – Sinulog Street Fair, Osmeña Blvd.

December 27, 2014 – January 24, 2015 – Sinulog 2014 Photo Exhibit @ SM City Cebu

December 30, 2014 (Tuesday) Sinulog Fun Run

5:00 A.M. – Elimination Sinulog 2015 Dance Crew

January 8, 2015 (Thursday) – Opening Salvo: Walk with Jesus

4:00 A.M. Assembly Time (Area) Fuente Osmeña

4:30 A.M. Start of Walk-Fuente Osmeña Blvd. – Basilica del Sto. Niño

5:30 A.M. Installation of Hermano & Hermana Mayores 2015

January 9, 2015 (Friday) – Sinulog 2015 Kick Off

10:00 A.M. -Sinulog Trade Fair @ SM City Cebu by

Department of Trade and Industry

2:00 P.M. -Solemn Mass (Basilica del Santo Niño)

3:00 P.M. -Launching Parade (Basilica del Santo Niño to CCSC)

7:00 P.M. -Opening and Launching Program, Fuente Osmeña

8:00 P.M. -Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 P.M. -Street Party Bands

January 10, 2015 (Saturday) – Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan

1:00 P.M. Parade of Participants, Capitol Site to Cebu City Sports Center

2:00 P.M. Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan @ Cebu City Sports Center