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Freeman Cebu Sports

This Sinulog feels familiar!

ALLEZ - J.V. Araneta - The Freeman

I don’t know about you but this year, there was this familiar buzz around the Sinulog, both procession and Mardi Gras, that I haven’t felt in years. And I mean like pre 2000.

For decades now, I have been ambivalent about the event, and I really didn’t care about it. There have been lots of experiments about the parade route, from the North Reclamation Area to the SRP, but nothing can beat the original route which passes along Jones Avenue and its surrounding areas.

I remember a friend of mine who wouldn’t go out for a bike ride during the Sinulog as it would offend the Little Child. He owned a fleet of passenger jeepneys and around 5am each Sinulog, he would park one of his jeepneys along Jones Ave, near Harrison Park. His family would be there to join the fun and watch the parade. I would drop by and have a bite or two and a glass of brandy would be handed out.

There was also body painting, and it was fun at the start. But as the years went by, some young punks took advantage by painting ladies with grease and sometimes touched those parts that were off limits. Fights broke out but were not really that serious. Inebriation played an important role in the bedlam. Once the parade was over, we would all troop towards Food Street near the Capitol for a nightcap of Carlos’s batchoy.

In 1997, we had a small franchise from a big company that sold poultry that was one of the major sponsors for that year. We were given a stall inside the Abellana Oval selling hotdogs and colas. We had a blast!

But then the Sinulog became more commercial, the sidewalks were closed for those who wanted to have “picnic” and given to the sponsors of the event. At that point, I grew wary of going out. Maybe it was my age or maybe I wanted my Sundays and Mondays (a holiday for the academe) to hop on my bike when traffic was not a concern.

Remember the Sinulog held at the Cebu North Reclamation? It was a huge mess and was just  moments away from disaster. The bottleneck going into the area was creating a stampede. I consider myself a big guy but I was moving forward by the crowd, my feet not touching the ground. I took a deep breath once I was out of it.

I think last year was the worst. I don’t understand why City Hall would put up the Sinulog in an area where the only edifices of note were the SM Seaside and the NU Star Hotel. Good thing that it was moved to its original and perfect place.

For the past two weeks, it seemed as if Sugbuanons hit the ground running from Christmas to Sinulog. I can feel my hair stand up when I see videos of the faithful waving their arms in unison at the Sto Nino Church. The Fluvial Parade also caused me to shed a tear or two.

I just hope that this Celebration of the Holy Child will remain traditional and true to its roots.

No more gimmickry please.

SINULOG

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