Get Intimate with the Queen City Of the South
Finally, I’ve uploaded all my photos of the Sinulog Grand Parade 2012. I would like to apologize for the long delay. I had to get my computer repaired and retrieve all the files I lost.
Anyway, the Sinulog Grand Parade is held every third Sunday of January. Every year, millions of people fill the streets of Cebu City to witness the grand parade and take part in the festivities. The parade starts at exactly nine in the morning and ends with a finale presentation and fireworks display at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Here are my photos of the parade. Hope you enjoy them.
————————-
Pit Senyor!
A day before the feast (and the Sinulog Grand Parade,) the Solemn Foot Procession is held. The procession, which starts and ends at the Basilica, passes through major city roads. Aside from the actual Sinulog Parade, the Solemn Foot Procession of the image of the Senyor Santo Niño is one of the most well-attended activities of the whole Sinulog season. This year, a record-breaking 1.8 million people joined the procession. That’s almost the population of the whole city. (Which brings police estimates of the whole Sinulog season to around 8 million. Wow!)
The Solemn Foot Procession is first and foremost a religious activity. The people who flock to the streets to honor the holy image say their prayers in silence. At times, they sing in unison as they wave their hands as a sign of devotion to Senyor Santo Niño.
From beginning til end, the procession moves in a slow but steady pace. Although the event attracts millions, the devotees walk the whole route in a disciplined and orderly manner.
——————–
Viva! Pit Senyor!
We woke up early last Saturday, January 14, 2012 to witness the annual fluvial procession. Since we’ve been witnessing the yearly procession, we decided to wake up extra early to make sure that we get a good spot. The fluvial procession has become one of the most well-attended events of the Sinulog season. So, arriving at any ‘viewing points’ just minutes before the start of the procession is such a bad idea.
Every year, on the eve of the Fiesta Senyor (the day before the fiesta,) the image of the Niño is brought back to the City of Cebu. After one whole day in Mandaue City, the image is brought back to the Basilica through a traditional fluvial procession. The procession starts at around eight in the morning and culminates in a holy mass at the Basilica at nine.
Here are some photographs of this year’s Fluvial Procession. Hope you enjoy the shots.
—————————-
Pit Senyor!
Last Friday, January 13, 2012, the annual search for the most talented Sinulog lead dancer was held. The competition, held at the Cebu City Sports Center, started at around 7:30 in the evening. The event, one of the highlights of the Sinulog season, features gorgeous lead dancers from various contingents in their awe-inspiring and truly magnificent gowns.
By the way, sorry for the shots. I couldn’t find a space near the front because the photographers who were there were all using ladders. Hehehe. I had to stay near the side of the stage with other photographers with ‘smaller’ cameras. 
————————
This year’s Sinulog Festival Queen is Apriel Smith of Cebu City’s Tribu Lumad Basakanon.
This year’s Miss Cebu is 21-year old Pierre Anther Infante from the Southwestern University. She bested 11 other candidates to become the new face of Cebu. Congratulations, Anther!
———————
Miss Cebu 2012: Pierre Anther Infante
The Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan is held every second Sunday of January. Contingents from different schools in the city battle it out for a spot in the Sinulog Grand Parade held every third week of the same month.
Here are some behind-the-scene shots of the street parade as well as shots of the competition proper. Hope you enjoy the photos!
—————–
Pit Senyor!
The weekend before the Sinulog Parade weekend, the Sinulog sa Kabataan (Sinulog of the Youth) is held. Students from both the city and the province of Cebu compete during these events for a spot in the Sinulog Grand Parade (held every third Sunday of January.)
The Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan (province) is held every second Saturday January. The Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan (city) is held every second Sunday.
Me and my Sinulog partner Line arrived at around 1 pm at the Abellana Grandstand for the event. At the gate, we noticed that the entrance fee to see the competition was already Php75 pesos. The amount in the previous years was only from Php20 to Php50. I’m not sure why they decided to suddenly make some sudden changes. The Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan is usually witnessed by Cebuanos from faraway municipalities who wish to support their contingents. The trip to Cebu City alone costs a lot. I’m sure some of them weren’t even able to get in because of the steep price. The Sinulog Foundation should have decreased the fee to Php20.
When me and Line were about to enter the grandstand, we were told that we had to get a ticket as well. Even though we already presented our Sinulog Photographer’s ID, (I’ve been covering the Sinulog for three years and the Photog’s ID serves as an all-access pass) they still insisted that we get tickets. Later, I learned that some photographers were allowed to get in even without paying Php75. What is up with that? In 2010, the price for a Photographer’s ID and a shirt was 500. The following year, they changed it to Php600 because they said they were throwing in a Canon vest with the kit. Okay, fine! This year, the price is Php1000! And what we get is a not so nice looking shirt. I’m not sure what they’ll do next year. Maybe they’ll charge Php2000 for each photographer.
Anyways, I decided to skip the picture-taking part and just watch the whole show from the grandstand. So, most of the shots from this post are Line’s. Only the last 8 shots are mine.
———————-
Pit Senyor!
Speak Up, Bai!