Sinulog Festival in Cebu

Cebuano celebration does not come to an end right after New Year. Guess what? It's until January 19. Wanna know about it? Well, let me share with you why.

What is Sinulog?
Even heard of Sinulog Festival? Sinulog Festival is a celebration every third Sunday of January. Sinulog originates from the Cebuano term "sulug", which means "like the movement of water current". This reflects why the dance has signature forward-and-backward steps of Sinulog dance. It resonates with the gentle flow of a river. On the flip side, the Sinulog Festival is a celebration of the feast of Sto. Niño. According to history, when in 1531, Ferdinand Magellan arrived in Cebu, a baby Jesus was gifted to Rajah Humabon of Cebu. Rajah Humabon feels joy upon receiving the gift and gracefully, she dances joyfully, and the other natives too! What starts to be a gift and a dance turns out to be a feast and the most anticipated event in Cebu.

Who Can Attend the Celebration?

EVERYONE! Everyone is free and invited to join the celebration. People from different places are encouraged to join the feast. In this big event, numerous artists would come and enjoy the celebration. It is at this part that people also get hyped and excited as they can see their favorite actresses and artists in the country. I really enjoyed it despite the blazing heat of the sun. It's fun, wild, and hype at the same time. People would love to say to each other* "Pit Senyor"* and people do the same. There was face paint, and water splashing all around. The vibe was just so magical.

What should You Do Before the Celebration

One important thing is that you book a hotel ahead. Months like October, November, and December would be ideal months to book because, Before the actual feast, all the hotels in Cebu are fully booked. If you plan to stay longer "sad-sad" you can go to a hotel. If you bring a car with you or any transportation, just expect that there will be heavy traffic, and limited to no available parking space due to a lot of people who attend the feast.

What to Bring During the Celebration

If you would like to join, I suggest you bring a lot of patience, because there were a lot of people and when I say a lot, that's 4 million people and that is for this year's celebration last January 19, 2025.

• You should bring your own water and an extra shirt. One common problem is that whenever you pee, there is a long wait because it's really flooded.
• You should also bring your favorite sunscreen because I tell you, it was really hot and crowded.
• You can bring an umbrella just in case it rains.
• You must condition yourself if you plan because it requires a lot of walk. It was really fun, I totally enjoyed it. Tiring but the fun? It's unimaginable. You've got to vibe with a lot of people.

How about you, what's your unforgettable Sinulog experience?