Cebu gov to perform anew in Sinulog parade

CEBU, Philippines – Expect Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to appear in a Spanish-inspired costume when she dances in the Sinulog grand parade along with the contingent from La Torta Festival of Argao town this Sunday.

It will be Garcia’s eighth year to dance in the Sinulog grand parade as a guest performer of the festival.

Garcia said it has been her personal vow since 2005 to dance in the Sinulog as a thanksgiving for the blessings that Cebu has received from the Sto. Niño and to again pray for the Holy Child’s continued protection for the province.

“I think it is His protection that spared us from what would have been major catastrophes,” Garcia said, referring to typhoons “Ramon” and “Sendong,” which were initially seen to hit Cebu but suddenly changed course.

Garcia’s personal prayer was “continued guidance that I may always follow the path that His will had charted out for me.”

The first performance of Garcia was in 2005 after being elected as the first woman governor of Cebu in the 2004 elections. In her first Sinulog dance, she joined the multi-awarded San Diego dance troupe.

Garcia danced as a Maranao princess with the Haladaya Festival of Daanbantayan town in 2006.

The following year, the governor danced during the opening and the closing ceremony as an Egyptian queen, and her favorite character, Aeda, queen of Nubia.

In 2008, Garcia danced with the Palawod Festival of Bantayan as the goddess of the sea, the Tostado Festival of Santander in 2009, and the Ani-anihan Festival of Tabuelan in 2010.

In 2011, the governor performed in the Sinulog parade with the Bonga Festival contingent of southern Sibonga town.

For this year, Garcia said the La Torta contingent that placed second runner-up in the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Festivals was a natural choice since the Pasigarbo grand champion (Carcar’s Kabkaban Festival) and runner-up (Madridejos’ Isda Festival) are among the participants in the Sinulog competition.

She added that what makes La Torta unique is its Spanish influence on the Cebuanos unlike the other festivals, which she joined in before, that mostly had neo-ethnic themes.

To make this year’s presentation unique, the festival jingle of La Torta will be played in the opening and the last part of the performance, instead of a drumbeat. – Freeman News Service