SINULOG, The Last Thirty Years

Where were you when the Sinulog Festival began? Perhaps, many of my beloved readers were teenagers then, celebrating what has become the Philippines’ biggest and grandest celebration that honors and pays homage to the Child Jesus—Sr. Santo Niño. Maybe some of them were little children tagging along with their parents as families celebrated the 1st Sinulog Parade organized by David Odilao with students dressed in Muslim costumes dancing the Sinulog to the beat of the drums. Perhaps, some followers of this column were not even been born yet!

In 1981, the concept of the Sinulog Festival as an annual event of Cebu City was realized and the Cebuano community participated in the Sinulog Parade which highlighted the historical aspects of the dance that links the Islamic and pagan past with the Roman Catholic religion. Your favorite food columnist was then employed with one of the corporations of the Gaw Family and he joined the participants right behind the float of Gaw Trading Inc. Slight problem was that no official guidelines were issued and the ambiance of the float and costumes of the dancers were appropriate for another festival, the Brazil Mardi Gras. The costumes were then too sexy.

Today, the Sinulog Festival is joined by hundreds of foreign tourists, balikbayans and overseas Filipino workers including promdi relatives and if you are a resident here, siguro gyud, you will have visitors to entertain. These days, we invite them to dine in restaurants because the Cebuano homes have become relatively smaller and house help have become fewer in number. In fact, the part of the house that you are welcomed shows your intimacy with your host. If you are seated in the sala, you are a mere acquaintance. If your host is eating during your visit and you are invited to join the meal, you are a friend or relative. If you go direct to the bedroom, very close friend or relative gyud ka!

Marco Polo Plaza (www.marcopoloplazacebu.com phone 253-1111) is the favorite destination for those guests who want a taste authentic Cebuano cuisine in the ambiance of a five-star hotel with the launching of Sugbusog, a Cebuano Food Festival with guest Chef Jessica Avila. She hails from Bantayan Island and is considered the authority on the cuisine of the Cebuanos.

Some of the Abre Gana (Appetizers) that were served during the food festival were the following: Kasahos (Pork Tapa), Special Pork Chicharon, Chicharon Bulaklak, Kinilaw na Tangigue, Kinusit-kusit nga Nukos (Squid Flakes), Hinornong Tahong (Baked Mussels), Guinisang Pasayan sa Ahos (Shrimp in Garlic) and Calamares Fritos.

Salads served were the Lato Salad, Guso Salad, Lukot Salad, Itlog na Maalat with Tomato, Onion Salad, Atchara (Green Papaya Salad), Green Mango Salad, Eggplant Salad and Banana Heart Salad.

Only problem was that your favorite food columnist reacted very slowly (post-holiday stress!) and failed miserable to take food photos for culinary accounting; rely na lang on the copies provided by the Marco Polo P.R. Department. Some of the Sud-an (main Course) that I tasted were Humba, Dinuguan (Jessica’s version, was without the intestines), Adobong Pasayan and the Sinugba Stuffed Squid. This time, I did miss the Rellenong Manok, a legacy from the ancestral home of Señora Filemona Yap Cabatingan in the Bantayan islands.

My next food assignment is interesting; it’s a wedding but not your usual wedding. The bride is in Cebu and the groom is in Saudi Arabia and communications will be by…..cell phone!