Sinulog Festival kickoff orderly – PNP

CEBU, Philippines — The launch of the Sinulog Festival on Friday was “successful and orderly,” Cebu City police chief Col. Irineo Dalogdog said, noting that no untoward incident was reported.

Aside from 409 police personnel, Dalogdog said teams from the Cebu City Transportation Office, Philippine Coast Guard and force multipliers were deployed to provide security.

The festival started with a mass presided by Monsignor Roberto Alesna at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu at around 3 p.m.

A parade from the Basilica to the Cebu City Sports Center led by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and his wife Malou was also held.

Festival queens and dancers from various schools in Cebu performed while contestants of Miss Cebu joined the parade.

Citing figures provided by the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Dalogdog said around 4,000 people participated in the opening parade on Friday.

In-person activities of the Sinulog Festival were canceled in the past two years due to the COVID pandemic. – The Freeman