Sinulog @ 30

The grandest Sinulog now on it's 30th year.

Sto. Niño fluvial parade

The grand spectacle on the Mactan channel drew more pilgrims in spite of the weather disturbance we've experienced for many weeks now. In fact, the coast guard barred small vessels and even small children from joining the fluvial parade. Undaunted, many of them still took part.

The sea was surprisingly calm that early morning. Many attribute it to one of Sto. Niño's doing. The other, an appearance of a rainbow which failed to show because there was no trace of rain which preludes the phenomena.

My third time to join the fluvial procession. Really worth waking up very early.

The Festival of Lights of Carcar

Yet again the fiesta in Carcar came to a close with another emphasis on the life of its patroness St. Catherine of Alexandria. The Festival of Lights is not just a mere spectacle of colorful gaiety but more importantly a way to revive the long forgotten devotion to the virgin-martyr. Four carrozas depicting major events in her life, her journey to sainthood, were paraded down passing through a street aptly named after her.

At the first sound of the drum people started to gather at the Balay na Tisa where the processional image of the saint dating back to the Spanish times is kept. The ceremony is reminiscent of dapit which I witness in my trip to Malolos, Bulacan for the Sto. Niño festival early this year. In dapit, different images of the Holy Child borne on carrozas decorated or not, are brought to the church late in the afternoon for a short procession around the town. The procession is first of the three, the remaining two happens the following day, always falling on the fourth Sunday of January. One in the morning and the grand procession in the evening.

The Festival of Lights is never complete without the Kabkaban dance. Fresh from their win from the previous days Kabkaban Festival, the Carcar Central Highschool dancers lent their talent by igniting the jovial mood of the people gathered around as the procession makes its way to the church for the mass.

A sonorous sound echoes this time coming from the church belfry signaled the end of the mass. Then festal music is played by the band as the carrozas went down the hill. The dancers now have changed to their hats mounted with lamps, from a distance one would see them meander through the narrow streets of the plaza.

It takes almost two hours for the reach back the church grounds through the traditional route of narrow streets around town. At the moment St. Catherines carroza nears the Balay na Tisa it makes a quick stop. Photos are taken with the house as background but more importantly the men also have their quick break from pushing the antique carriage. Water is served attentively them by the helpers of the house

The last stretch of the procession is a few hundred meters from the house. And then the last set of sounds from the belfry can be heard from a distance. The carroza finally reached its destination. A few minutes more it started its descent together with the untiring dancers accompanied the the joyous Kabkaban beat. They make their final dance before everyone.

Until the next fiesta!

Pasigarbo sa SUGBO 2008

It's getting bigger and bigger every year. Gathering more than thirty contingents from various cities and towns of Cebu, the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo now becomes one of the highly anticipated events in Cebu. The festival which is one of the highlights of the celebration of the 439th anniversary of Cebu as a province.

Spectators lined up the streets of Mandaue city as contingents danced to the Pasigarbo rhythm. All roads led to the Cebu International Convention Center for the second time to host the grand showdown of the best festivals of the island.

Food, products and traditions were a common theme for all. The contingent from Badian won the best in costume award and in turn the 5th place by showcasing their most notable product, the banig. As expected, the entry from Alcoy town showcased the endemic black bird in their dance while the grand champion from Bantayan island captured the judges' hearts by presenting life at sea.

The List of Winners:

Palawod Festival - Bantayan Island

Haladaya Festival - Daanbantayan

Siloy Festival - Alcoy

Ani-anihan Festival - Tabuelan

Banig Festival - Badian

Tostado Festival - Santander

Sinamay Festival - Carmen

Soli-Soli Festival - San Francisco, Camotes Island