The artistry of the Sinulog Grand Parade

CEBU, Philippines – Without a doubt, the reported 3.2-million crowd at last Sunday's Sinulog Grand Parade came for the stunning street performances by this year's contingents. The well-choreographed street dancing, however, was not the only attraction. There were other equally spectacular highlights.

Puppeteers, "higante" (giant mascots), colorful floats, and fantasy characters in eye-catching costumes also earned the applause of the crowd - composed of both the truly young and the simply young-at-heart.

The Sinulog Grand Parade has always been impressive, a spectacle that showcases the artistic talents in this part of the country.  It's a different kind of "art," not bound by available space at galleries or "museums," the traditional art venues.

The spectacular artistry of the Sinulog Grand Parade brings to mind a popular quote by Leonard Bernstein - an American composer, conductor and pianist: "… art never stopped a war and never got anybody a job. That was never its function. Art cannot change events. But it can change people. It can affect people so that they are changed... because people are changed by art - enriched, ennobled, encouraged - they then act in a way that may affect the course of events."

The Sinulog Grand Parade did not end crime in the city or provide solution to the adverse effects of climate change. But, for sure, it stirred public consciousness about certain things that would otherwise just slip the collective mind. And this it did by providing good entertainment - infusing elements of pop-culture, social commentary and light-hearted humor that captured everyone's attention.