MY SINULOG EXPERIENCE AND POINT OF VIEW

Hi there Hivers! This is @doughnahhh, I'm back with another series. Come along with me today as I share all of my Sinulog experiences and perspectives with you all.

Every third Sunday in January, Cebu City celebrates the Sinulog Festival. This is to honor Senior Santo Niño. The majority of Filipinos are Catholic Christians, and the Sinulog is a significant religious festival that honors the Child Jesus. The Sinulog Festival is preceded by a week-long schedule of activities that begin on the third Sunday of January. Many tourists visit Cebu City expressly for this festival, which celebrates Philippine culture through music, song and dance, and arts, all of which can be seen on the city's streets during the Sinulog Parade. And this is my SINULOG 2025 experience, going through the crowds and walking the streets. It was fun but tiring yet satisfying afterward.

Last Sunday, thousands of people gathered in Cebu City to celebrate the Sinulog Festival, one of the most famous in the Philippines. Not only did Filipinos come, but people from all over the world came to see the celebration. The festival's magnificence earned it the nickname "Mother of all Festivals" among Filipinos and other Asians. The Sinulog Festival never fails to impress its audience, from the colorful and well-made costumes of the dancers to the magnificent dances and music provided by the drums, trumpets, and native gongs. Essentially, the event is done through a dance ritual that tells the story of the Filipino people's pagan origin and conversion to Christianity. The term "Sinulog" means "graceful dance," and it all began in 1980 with a simple dance that mirrored the "sulog" (or current) of a river in Cebu.

We used to attend every Sinulog. Every year, my family and I would gather to celebrate Cebu City's largest celebration. I hope everyone has as wonderful a Sinulog celebration as I do. This year's Sinulog 2025, I'm only with my sister, aunt, and boardmate; however, my entire family is unable to attend due to very important events; we hope to make it up next year soon.

The Sinulog Grand Parade is one of the festival's main attractions every year. This year's parade was a whirl of colors and sounds. There were many tangible floats. They showed up in a variety of shapes and sizes, each exhibiting their own originality and resourcefulness.

I saw contenders from various Cebu towns as well as neighboring provinces such as Davao Oriental, Negros, Cotabato, Dumaguete, and many more. There are also representatives from ACT, UP, and other organizations and barangays. They are all smiling and having fun while dancing, which earns the judge points. The drums are loud and produce a lot of noise, which contributes to the vibrant atmosphere.

There's a cutie entry from the Bureau of Fire Protection; they're so hip and give off such a positive atmosphere. Everyone in the audience is amazed by their performance. They provide us with live entertainment in the crowd; they are so cheerful and energetic that it seems they are not tired at all; they still bring a big smile to the people around.

During my Sinulog experience, I couldn't help but notice how religious Cebuanos were. It demonstrates that their devotion to Santo Niño is the driving force behind Sinulog. Despite the heat, exhaustion, and massive crowds, they are motivated by the concept of paying gratitude to their benefactor. It is one of the things I value most about Sinulog and Filipino culture. If given the option to return to Cebu to attend Sinulog again, I would do it without hesitation—I want to relive the festivities and parade. I would recommend going to Sinulog at least once in your lifetime. If you visit Cebu during Sinulog, you will surely catch the fever!

When I saw a Jollibee float during the Sinulog parade, I noticed that many children were very happy to see it. I saw myself to them before they yelled Jollibee2, and it touched my heart and made me cry with joy, as if it were healing my inner child. Jollibee is a kid's favorite food, not just for kids but also for most Filipinos because it's at all times their favorite. My heart is so very happy and touched.

That's it for today, hivers. I hope you enjoyed and had some thoughts on my blog today.