If there is one thing I loved about having the Philippines become a Spanish colony in the past, it is their introduction of what we know as Fiesta.
Fiesta, the Spanish word for party, is a celebration of almost anything here in the Philippines. If you have checked on my Good to Know post, about the Lanzones fruit, you would know that even a large harvest can be made into a fiesta.
Much like how you would go about in a party, we can expect the abundance of food, ever flowing drinks, loud music and dance!
What I am about to tell you is a party, that of my home town in Cebu, Philippines. One of the biggest fiestas in the Philippines, the Sinulog Festival.
Sinulog
The Sinulog festival is the celebration of the Baby Jesus who we call in Cebu as Sto. Niño (Pronounced as Santo Ninyo), the Holy Child. This festival is held on the very 3rd Sunday of the month of January, an event that is pretty much anticipated by everyone here in Cebu, cebuanos and tourists alike.
The Sinulog festival, being one of the largest festivals in the Philippines, closes the whole city down to make way for the Sinulog street dance at the very heart of the city. A route that is a couple of kilometers long, the dancing devotees dances the Sinulog from the start, until they reach the end of the parade at the Cebu City Sports Complex. An event that would start at around 8 in the morning, all the way until 6 in the evening, all beneath the scorching heat of the sun.
A History Lesson
The Dance
The Sinulog is a term that originated from the visayan word 'Sulog', which means current or flow. So to dance the Sinulog meant to dance like the flow of the water current, 2 steps forward, 1 step backward all to the sound of the drums.
The Discovery
During the discovery of the Philippines by the Spanish kingdom, Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer, came to Cebu, and was greeted by Rajah Humabon, the leader of what was then the early Cebuanos. With their attempt to christianize everyone, Magellan presented Rajah Humabon and his wife, Hara Humamay, the image of Baby Jesus and baptized the early Cebuanos to the Roman Catholic church. Hara Humamay, who was then renamed to Queen Juana, in honor of Juana the mother of Carlos I, was said to have received the image with joy and excitement. She danced that joy and excitement bearing the image of Sto. Niño, what was then regarded as the first Sinulog.
PS. There is also another version to the history of the dancing as well as the shouting, maybe another time...
The Miracle
This was a letter to the King of Spain from López de Legazpi
After Juan Camus found the Santo Niño in the burning village, López de Legazpi was said to have included the incident in his report, entitled "Relation of Voyage to the Philippine Islands":
"Your Excellency should know that on that day when we entered this village (Cebu City), one of the soldiers went into a large and well-built house of an indio where he found an image of the Child Jesus (whose most holy name I pray may be universally worshipped). This was kept in its cradle, all gilded, just as if it were brought from Spain: and only the little cross, which is generally placed upon the globe in his hands, was lacking. The image was well kept in that house, and many flowers were found before it, and no one knows for what object or purpose. The soldier bowed down before it with all reverence and wonder, and brought the image to the place where the other soldiers were. I pray to the Holy Name of his image, which we found here, to help us and to grant us victory, in order that these lost people who are ignorant of the precious and rich treasure, which was in their possession, may come to knowledge to him."
The Augustinian priests that accompanied López de Legazpi proclaimed that the statue performed miracles and built a church on the site where it was found. What was then called San Augustin church which is now renamed into the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, a sight that can still be seen today. (The Original Image of the Sto. Niño still lies in the museum beneath the Basilica enclosed in a bulletproof case)
Street Dance? Street Party!
What was then, a solemn celebration of devotion to the Baby Jesus, is now turned into what we now know as a full blown Mardi Gras.
In the past, everyone celebrated the festivities by watching the parade, eating with friends, enjoying each everyone company, all in devotion to the Child Jesus.
Comparing that to now, where the Street Dancers perform in the middle of the road, Street Parties commence in the sidewalks. A wild view of happiness and freedom, you get to see people get drunk right before your very eyes. Witnessing transformation from the sober to the wild drunk men and women some are becoming. There really is a big gap between what was then and now. But definitely, looking at what now is, the devotion clearly becomes unclear.
Finish Line
The Sinulog is one of the biggest, brightest, and most celebrated events, here in the Philippines. Attracting an easy 1-2 million people, you can just imagine how you can fit all of those people in the tiny streets of Cebu. But whether their attendance is for their devotion to the image of Sto. Niño or just for the street parties, only they will know.
Personally, I have had my fair share of the Sinulog festivities. From the walk to celebrate the true meaning of Sinulog, as well as getting drunk(not) on the wild street parties. While I really love the devotion to Sto. Niño, I could not really condemn the street parties. For me, they are still a form of celebration, a day in dedication to the image of the Child Jesus.
What I do condemn though, is the aftermath. Though it is expected that alcohol intoxicates and eventually pollutes the mind, it is the bearer of the body that is still responsible.
So during these festivities HEED my tips:
• Respect the people around us. Not everyone wants to party, and are just there for the solemnity of the event, let us respect that and let them go their way.
• Respect the property of others, to vandalize is a crime, no matter how drunk you are, it is disrespectful and is never an excuse.
• Respect the environment, garbage bins have a use, use them well.
• Despite all that, be safe, keep your belongings with you, and if you already feel drunk, leave it there and go home, there is no sense to sleep on the sidewalk.
It has been awhile that I have been to the Sinulog Festival, I wonder when I can enjoy the festivities again. But if you happen to be in town, I hope that you will not miss the Sinulog Festival 2018 which is already happening, this Sunday, January 21st. I want to say, 'See you there', but I can't. But I hope you guys enjoy the festivities!
That is definitely a wrap, please FOLLOW me, as I am planning to do more good to know stuff from the Philippines.
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• Good to Know: Balut! A Bizarre Gastronomic Experience
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See you guys on the next Good to Know...
