What's up this Sinulog season

The Christmas season is now over for the rest of the Christian nations, but that is not the case in Cebu and the other cities in the Philippines that celebrate the feast of our much beloved SEÑOR STO. NIÑO. In this city, the spirit of Christmas does not end until after the 3rd Sunday of January. It is therefore safe to say, that in Cebu, Christmas is celebrated for 1 month.

On this day, the whole province of Cebu moves as one, to the beat of the drums as they actively participate in the procession, the fluvial parade, and the SINULOG, where they dance in the streets to the traditional Sinulog beat to honor the Infant Jesus. Everyone participates each in their own way as they pray together, watch the parade together, eat together, or just watch the parade on television together. During the early years of the Sinulog Parade, I remember dancing in the streets with fellow travel agents, since everyone was welcomed to join in the fanfare.

During those times, we did not have the kind of organized parade that we have today. As the crowd of revellers grew thicker each year, the city saw the need to put more order to the celebration and give more focus to the reason for the celebration...the Señor Sto Niño! Each year the number of participants grow in number, and the floats get more and more attractive, to the delight of all our visitors from all over the world and a source of great pride to our fellow countrymen, who come home in droves just to celebrate the occasion with us.

In addition to these festivities, and for the past two years now, our province through the initiative and leadership of our first lady Governor Gwen Garcia, has organized a Suroy-Suroy Sa Sugbo, to make the trip of our kababayans and balikbayans coming from abroad, worthwhile. Our indefatigable Lady Governor has managed to move the whole province and the people, to welcome our guests, as the group moves from one city or municipality to another.

Having joined the first Suroy-Suroy two years ago, all I can say is that the feeling and the pleasure of the experience is indescribable! One simply has to experience it, to know how it feels. Another Suroy-Suroy to the South of Cebu is scheduled for Jan. 24-26, and from what I can see, it will be another memorable event for our visitors. Suroy-suroy is a two nights package on twin-share basis includes three breakfast, three lunches, three dinners, unlimited snacks, entertainment galore, air-conditioned motorcoach, with an English speaking tour guide.

The cost ranges from P3,100.00 to P8,075.00 depending on the category of your hotel. If you have not booked yourselves yet, call your travel agent, and book yourself on this once-a-year package that promises nothing but FUN, FUN AND MORE FUN!!!

For all those who are extending their visit to Cebu up to February, join our "buy 5 take 1 priest free" PROMO to the Holyland, Egypt and Jordan, where you can follow the FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS from His birth to His resurrection!. For more information and reservations, you may call Delmar Travel & Tours at the numbers shown below.

For your comments, you can reach me at Delmar Travel & Tours, Inc. at Tel. No. 2536561 & 2536571, or by email at: [email protected] or [email protected].