The Sinulog; a religious, political, cultural event

My whole family and I are here in Cebu and we joined the Sinulog yesterday. We have seen with our own eyes all the evidence showing that Sinulog is indeed the most attended, the best acclaimed, and with the highest quality of event organizing among all the religious festivals in the whole country.

Fundamentally, it is first and foremost, a religious festival centered on the veneration of the Holy Child, with the oldest religious relic vintage April 1521, the same icon which was offered to Hara Amihan or Humanay, the wife of Rajah Humabon by Ferdinand Magellan, after the two were baptized into the Christian and Catholic faith. But we cannot deny it; the Sinulog has also metamorphosed into a political event. The planning, organizing, budgeting, and implementation of the activities are in the hands of elected politicians and not really on the leaders of the archdiocese.

Of course, when we talk of politicians, there are so-called incumbents, and so-called suspended and even ousted. But there are de jure and de facto politicians and the people whisper aloud that the two camps are really and palpably trying to outdo each other in projecting who are the true leaders and the impostors. Even the venue, whether the Cebu City Sports Center or the South Road Properties, is a political issue. Politicizing religious activities is nothing new. This phenomenon was not invented by Cebuanos. The scribes and Pharisees during the times of Jesus, Pilate, and Caiaphas already practiced it.

The Sinulog is really a ritual prayer dance, that combines Christian faith with our culture since the times of our pre-Spanish ancestors of worshipping the unknown and the unseen power of the Divine. The dance consists of two steps forward and one step backward done to the sounds of the drums or to the chant “Pit Senyor”, in honor of the Señor Santo Niño. Before Magellan came, our ancestors were already dancing to honor and seek favor from the spirits.

In 1980, under President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Department of Sports and Youth Development regional director David Odilao organized the first Sinulog which was held on January 20, 1980. I was then a Labor arbiter assigned in Cebu and I was teaching in the college of law of my alma mater, UV Gullas Law School. I participated in the celebration of the first Sinulog 45 years ago. The governor then, Governor Atty. Eddie R. Gullas, and the mayor, Dr. Florentino Solon, were both godfathers at my wedding.

From then on, the Sinulog has grown bigger and bigger over the years. With due respect, it has surpassed the record and prestige of the Ati-Atihan of Kalibo in Aklan, the Dinagyang of Iloilo, the Kadayawan of Davao, the Pintados of Tacloban, the Moriones of Marinduque, the Peñafrancia of Naga, and the Black Nazarene of Quiapo. People from all over the world do come home to Cebu every third Sunday of January to celebrate the Sinulog which even rivals Christmas in terms of attendance and prestige.

This is also an excellent vehicle for tourism and for business. The hotels, the airlines, the restaurants, and all the ancillary service companies are making a killing during this celebration. The Sinulog is not just about religion, it is politics, culture, tourism, and business. But lest we overlook it in the hustle and bustle of things, the reason for the celebration is the Holy Child.