Every third Sunday in January, Cebu City commemorates the Sto.

Niño (infant Jesus)

(child Jesus) with the Sinulog Festival, a historic event. It has been a long-standing custom
among Cebuanos for more than 30 years, and it developed from a modest religious festival
into a popular tourist destination. The Sinulog is a symbol of the Cebuanos' enthusiasm and
unwavering faith in Sto. Niño, and it has been passed down from one generation to the
next.
I haven't experienced the Annual Sinulog Fiesta first-hand in my 18 years of life. I was
only exposed to it through television and other online media during my formative years.
Accordingly, on the day of the Festival, my family and I attended church in our
neighbourhood and pondered about the priest's sermon, which was related to the Fiesta
Senor Santo Nino. And with that we are able to celebrate the Fiesta Señor and were very
grateful for that day because we are healthy and well to this day.
I only saw live presentations and live mass for the 458th fiesta Señor on social media
sites like Facebook and YouTube. I've also read news articles and updates about the
Festival, what was occurring, how things were around here, and other things. I can say with
certainty that it was a pleasant and colorful experience to see the presentations of the
many contingents and participate in the parade, even though I wasn't present to really take
part in such a historic festival.
As what I’ve read on the news and different platforms, the Fiesta Señor Novena has
been held in Cebu throughout the majority of wet days. However, hundreds of thousands
of devotees who have participated in Novena masses and other events since January 5 have
not let bad weather dampen their passion or dedication. On the other hand, in the
Pontifical Mass of the Fiesta Senor at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu on
Sunday, January 15, the Feast of the Holy Child, was finally attended by thousands of Santo
Niño faithful after a two-year absence.
Overall, numerous of people have attended and celebrated the festival and I guess
they enjoyed being there although there were a lot of people and kind of crowded and
traffic in the end of all the programs. But still, it was all a success, what’s important is we
are able to attend the holy mass on the day of the Festival wherever we are and celebrated
it in the most memorable way. As Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said “And yet, padayon kita
maingon, Señor Santo Niño, tuburan sa kalipay, paglaum sa pagsulay (And yet, we continue
to say, Señor Santo Niño, fountain of joy, hope during trying times)”.