Viva, Pit Senyor!
Prrrt prt prt prt prt! Sinulog is finally here! I’m so glad I was able to convince some of my friends to fly over and experience the fun and craziness that Cebu celebrates that day! To those of you wondering, Sinulog is about the celebration of the Feast of the Sto. Nino, the Filipino representation of little boy Jesus. The statue was given to the King and Queen of Cebu when the Spaniards came to the island in 1521, making it the oldest representation of our religion. And so, many people from the world over come to Cebu every 3rd Sunday of January to join the Cebuanos in huge processions, heart warming mass celebrations at the Basilica de Sto. Nino, fluvial parades in the early hours of the morning, and celebrations with joyous dancing in the streets during the day! It’s really unbelievable how passionate everyone is about this day. People walk for miles, cry when they see the statue being risen, and feel so joyful that they don’t mind dancing all day under the heat of the sun in big flouncy costumes and floats! It’s like Mardi Gras, but ten times better.
My friends and I braved the streets (you have to walk because the traffic is insane that whole week!) and watched the colorful people (in colorful costumes and colorful paint) walk by with huge smiles on their faces. We finally made our way to Baseline, one of the places where people usually party. This year, WAGW was a sponsor, and I made it a point to bring my friends and let them experience the crazy that happens there! When we arrived, people were literally throwing paint at us and at each other, and warning us with “Good luck!’s” Pat, Sean and Cams didn’t get it at first, but when they saw the crowd, they knew exactly what everyone meant! I felt like I was going to get squished by a stampede! The people were partying to their hearts content like sardines on the field! It was amazing!
Of course, before we headed out, I made sure to give extra tips on how to survive the “battlefield.”
1. Wear Native Shoes- they’re comfortable, water (and alcohol) resistant, odor free and you can wash the gunk off right after!
2. Wear clothes you might not ever see again. Cebuanos usually buy new Sinulog shirts made by their barkadas or Cut and Style one from Island Souvenirs. I wore my Island Souvenirs one (of course) and matched it with a custom made “Pit Senyor” headband by Anagon!
3. Keep your cellphones and cameras in waterproof cases.
Look at how dirty we are! Just proof of how extremely fun it was! Hopefully I can do all things touristy next year, like hear mass at the Basilica and watch the parade to show you guys how amazing it really is! Sinulog is always an Epic celebration, and I sure can’t wait for the next!
