What is Sinulog?
It is huge here on Cebu. People come from all over the Philippines to participate and to see it.
Sinulog is a dance ritual in honor of the miraculous image
of the Santo Nino. The dance moves to the sound of the drums and this resembles
the current (Sinulog) of what was then known as Cebu's Pahina River. Thus, in
Cebuano, they say it's Sinulog.
More than just the meaning of the word is the significance
of the dance. Historians now say that Sinulog, which is of pagan origin, is the
link between the country's pagan past and its Christian present.
Historical accounts say that 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, Sinulog was already danced
by the natives in honor of their wooden idols and anitos. Then Magellan came and
introduced Christianity. He gave the Santo Nino (image of the Child Jesus) as
baptismal gift to Hara Amihan, wife of Cebu's Rajah Humabon who was later named
Queen Juana. At that time, not only the rulers were baptized but also about 800
of their subjects. Unfortunately, however, shortly after the conversion,
Magellan went into a reckless adventure by fighting the reigning ruler of
Mactan, Rajah Lapulapu, with only a handful of men. He died in the encounter.
That was on April 27, 1521.
The remnants of Magellan's men were however able to return
to Spain to report the incident and the possibility of conquest. 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. His ships
bombarded the village and in one of the burning huts, one of his soldiers named
Juan Camus found inside a wooden box the image of the Santo Nino lying side by
side with native idols.
Historians now say that during the 44 years between the coming
of Magellan and Legaspi, the natives continued to dance the Sinulog. This time
however, they danced it no longer to worship their native idols but a sign of
reverence to the Santo Nino which is now enshrined at the San Agustin Church (
renamed Basilica Minore del Santo Nino). Of course, through the years since
1521, the dance was a small ritual danced by a few in front of wooden idols or
before the Santo Nino. In fact, at the Santo Nino Church where the image is
consecrated, only the candle vendors could be seen dancing the Sinulog and
making offerings. During the Santo Nino fiesta which falls on the third Sunday
of January, children dressed moro-moro costumes also dance the Sinulog.
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Posters announcing Sinulog.
My PT doctor had balloons in his office that said "Viva Pit Señor"
Which refers to the infant Christ child statue that was brought to the Philippines.
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On our way home from Bogo on Sunday we came across several communities celebrating with their own parades and their own girls wearing elaborate costumes dancing with a replica of the infant Christ child statues. When we came to one community we were directed around the back roads so traffic didn't interfere with the parade.
Street vendors selling all kinds of face masks.
Many of the people were wearing face paint and Sinulg T-shirts.
It seems to be a mix of the pagan and the Christianity.
