SINULOG FESTIVAL

Sinulog-Santo Third
Date Niño Sunday of January
Festival
Type Religious / Cultural

Observed by Cebu City

Type
Religious / Cultural
 Sinulog Festival
• The festival is the largest and considered to be the first and Queen of
all festivals in the Philippines, with every celebration of the festival
routinely attracting around 1 to 15 million people all over the world
every year.[1] Aside from the religious aspect of the festival, Sinulog is
also famous for its street parties, usually happening at night before and
at the night of the main festival.
What is the meaning of the word
'sinulog'?
• The term “sinulog” is derived from the Cebuano word “sulog”
which roughly refers to 'a movement that's like the water
current'. As such, the Sinulog dance itself primarily consists of a
graceful forward-backward movement — two steps forward and
one step back which is danced in tune to a recognizable
drumbeat that identifies the Sinulog festivity.
• The Sinulog dance steps are believed to originate from Rajah Humabon's
adviser, Baladhay.[dubious – discuss] It was during Humabon's grief when
Baladhay fell sick. Humabon ordered his native tribe to bring Baladhay
into a room where the Santo Niño was enthroned, along with the other
pagan gods of the native Cebuanos. After a few days passed, Baladhay was
heard shouting and was found dancing with utmost alertness. Baladhay was
questioned as to why was he was awake and shouting. Pointing to the
image of the Santo Niño, Baladhay explained that he had found on top of
him a small child trying to wake him and tickling him with the midrib of
the coconut. Greatly astonished, he scared the child away by shouting. The
little child got up and started making fun of Baladhay. 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, 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.
Why is Sinulog celebrated?
• The Sinulog Festival is done in honor of Santo Niño (the Child
Jesus) and it is usually held for 9 consecutive days in Cebu, with
the Sinulog Grand Parade usually commencing from the third
Sunday of January. The famous parade also primarily
commemorates the Filipinos acceptance of Roman
Catholicism (when the image of the Child Jesus was handed
over as a gift by Portuguese conquistador Ferdinand Magellan to
the king and queen of Cebu in 1521), thus transitioning from
their former pagan or animist beliefs.