Santo Nino is the Patron Saint celebrated in the Sinulog Festival

For years, millions of devotees of the miraculous image of the Child Jesus, Santo Niño,
have been coming to Cebu City from all over the world to show their gratitude to the
Holy Child in the week-long Sinulog festival.

For years, millions of devotees of the miraculous image of the Child Jesus,
Santo Niño, have been coming to Cebu City from all over the world to show
their gratitude to the Holy Child in the week-long Sinulog festival.

Apart from being a religious festival, Sinulog has also served as a venue to
showcase the unique Cebuano artistry and creativity as participants offer
stunning performances and a remarkable celebration that continues to capture
the hearts of local and foreign tourists.

The festival is celebrated every third Sunday of January.

Sinulog comes from the Cebuano word "sulog” means “like water current” and is
actually the name of the dance ritual in honor of the Santo Niño. The dance
moves to the beat of the drums and this resembles the current of a river in
Cebu. Thus, calling it the Sinulog Dance. 

Historians say that Sinulog is the link between the Philippines’ pagan past and
its Christian present.

Sinulog Festival, one of the most famous festivals in the Philippines. It was attended,
not only by Filipinos, but people coming from different parts of the globe also went to
witness the celebration.

The magnificence of the festival made Filipinos, as well as our fellow Asians, refer to it
as the “Mother of all Festivals”. From the colorful and well-made costumes of the
dancers, to the beautiful dances and to the music brought by the drums, trumpets, and
the native gongs, the Sinulog Festival never ceases to amaze its audience.

For 32 years, the Sinulog Festival is a traditional celebration in Cebu City held every
third Sunday of January to honor the Santo Niño (Child Jesus). Basically, the festival is
done by a dance ritual, in which it tells the story of the Filipino people’s pagan past and
their acceptance of Christianity. The word “Sinulog” means “graceful dance”, wherein it
all started in 1980 with a simple dance that represents the “sulog” (or current) of a river
in Cebu.

Sinulog was already danced by the natives in honor of their wooden idols and
anitos even before Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan came to Cebu on
April 7, 1521 to plant the cross on its shore and claim the country for the King
of Spain. Then Magellan came and introduced Christianity. He gave the image of
Santo Niño as a baptismal gift to Hara Amihan, who was later named Queen
Juana, wife of Cebu’s Rajah Humabon. At that time, more than 800 were
baptized including the rulers and their subjects. But shortly after the religious
conversion, Magellan was killed into a reckless fight with the reigning ruler of
Mactan, Lapu-Lapu, on April 27, 1521.

It took 44 years before a new group came and started the formal
Christianization of the islands. Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrived in Cebu on April
28, 1565, and his ships bombarded the village. Then Spanish soldier Juan
Camus found the image of the Santo Niño inside a wooden box in the burned
ruins of a pre-Spanish settlement in Cebu.

During the 44 years between the coming of Magellan and Legaspi, the natives
continued to dance the Sinulog. Every Santo Niño fiesta which falls on the third
Sunday of January, children dressed in moro-moro costumes danced the
Sinulog. This was not really a big event for Cebu City then.

In 1980, then Regional Director of the Ministry of Sports and Youth

Development (MYSD) David S. Odilao Jr., organized the first-ever Sinulog
parade.

The Sinulog steps were analyzed and further enhanced. With the help of the
teachers from several schools and universities, the first Sinulog Street Dance
Parade was spearheaded. The street dance parade was the start of the idea of
making the Sinulog a festival.

Under the direction of then Cebu City Mayor Florentino S. Solon together with
the influential names in town, a committee was formed to officially organize the
first Sinulog Festival in 1981.

Sinulog is one of the most-awaited events in the Philippines so expect to see a

lot of people in the streets who will participate in the celebration. The Grand
Street Parade which is the biggest event during Sinulog, normally starts at
around 8 or 9 in the morning. There are also pyromusical shows, and a series of
fun events that you should look forward to.
Brief description of sinulog festival
Sinulog is held in celebration of one of the country’s most famous historic relics:
the Santo Niño de Cebú. This was the statue of the baby Jesus that was handed to the
Rajah Humabon of Cebu by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.
This was one of the most important events in the religious history of the Philippines as it
paved the way to the birth of Christianity in the country.
At the moment of receiving the holy image, it was said that Queen Juana, the main
consort of Rajah Humabon, danced with joy holding this image of the child Jesus.
The other natives followed her example, and this event was regarded as the first
Sinulog dance. The same event was used as the basis for most Sinulog dances.
The Sinulog dance steps are also believed to originate from Baladhay, Rajah
Humabon's adviser. When Baladhay got sick, Humabon ordered his tribe to bring
Baladhay into a room where the Santo Niño was enthroned.
After a few days, Baladhay was heard shouting and was found dancing by the native
tribe. Baladhay was asked as to why was he was shouting and dancing. He pointed at
the image of the holy Jesus and explained that baby Jesus was tickling him.  
In turn, Baladhay danced with the little child and explained that he was dancing the
movements of the river. To this day, the two-steps forward, the one-step backward
movement is still used by Santo Niño devotees who believe that it was the Santo Niño's
choice to have Baladhay dance.

Meaning of Sinulog              
Sinulog comes from the Cebuano word “sulog” which means “like water
current movement” which depicts the forward-backward step of Sinulog
dance.
Watch the grand parade

This is the main event and this is where locals show off their creativity and fun
side. The Sinulog grand parade can rival the colorful festival of Rio and is
considered the most colorful festival in Asia.
Join the street parties

Prior to and after the main parade, street parties are everywhere in Cebu
during the evening. So join the locals, get your face painted and get a beer
shower.
Enjoy the food
cebu is one of the best places in the Philippines to enjoy Filipino foods. From
the famous Lechon, rumba, b-ami or Puso, you will for sure enjoy the local
delicacies in Cebu.

Watch the fireworks