Events + Entertainment

Here’s How You Can Prepare for the Grand Comeback of Cebu’s Sinulog Festival 2023

Get ready for Cebu’s Sinulog Festival 2023 this January 15!

By: Mira Maestrecampo | January 06, 2023
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Sinulog Festival 2023, festival in Cebu, Sto. Nino festival in Cebu

Get ready for the comeback of Cebu’s grandest festival with festive activities and more.

Images: Sinulog Festival - Cebu, Philippines Facebook page

Cebu welcomes the New Year with the exciting comeback of Sinulog Festival 2023 on January 15. The festival is held annually in Cebu every third Sunday of January. This year’s festival will be held at the South Road Properties, World Tent City, Cebu City.

The Sinulog Festival is one of the grandest and most popular festivals in the Philippines. Every January, Cebu’s religiously vibrant and fun-filled Sinulog Festival is always anticipated by locals and even attracts tourists to join the festivities and visit the Queen City of the South. This festival in Cebu is also known as the Santo Niño Festival and is considered a religious celebration.

The festival’s origin can be traced back to critical religious events in the Philippines, specifically in honor of a historical relic—the statue of Baby Jesus given by Ferdinand Magellan to Raja Humabon of Cebu back in 1521. The said historic event marked the birth of Christianity in the country and therefore commemorated every year by the Cebuanos.

To maximize the enjoyment of joining the Sinulog Festival 2023, here is how you can be ready to participate in the fun of the well-acclaimed Sto. Nino Festival in Cebu!


Know the Sinulog Festival’s schedule of activities.



Sinulog Festival 2023 – Festival in Cebu – Sto. Nino Festival in Cebu, Sinulog Festival 2023

Witness festive dances, parades, and more during the famous festival in Cebu.

Image: Sinulog Festival - Cebu, Philippines Facebook page

As early as November, social media platforms managing Cebu’s Sinulog Festival 2023 have already announced the schedule of activities for the festival or the Fiesta Señor 2023, and the actions that you should take note of are as follows:

January 5 – Opening Salvo/Walk with Jesus
January 5 to 14 – Novena Masses
January 13 - Walk with Mary and Traslacion to Mandaue City
January 14
Traslacion to Lapu-lapu City
Fluvial Procession
Reenactment
Solemn Foot Procession
January 15 - Feast Day
January 20 – Adlaw sa Hubo

The Sinulog Festival 2023 also has music festivals and parties scheduled to light up the celebrations as festivalgoers dance and groove to exciting music. You might also take note of these music festivals with their respective schedules:

January 7, 2023 - Verve Sinulog Festival from 3:00 PM to 3:00 AM (location is not yet announced, but organizers said that the festival will be close to the city) [1]
January 13 to 15 - SMF: Sinulog Music Festival, SRP Grounds Cebu City
January 13 and 14 - Careless Music Festival or Wavy Baby Music Festival at Mandaue City’s North Reclamation Area


Don’t be complacent in crowded places, and always follow festival rules.



Sinulog Festival 2023 – Festival in Cebu – Sto. Nino Festival in Cebu, festival in Cebu

The locals surely miss the dazzling display of colors, unique dance performances, and the overall vibe of the Sinulog Festival.

Image: Sinulog 2023 Facebook page

Expect a flock of people during the festival, especially since the country is still in the post-pandemic phase. Festival goers are encouraged and sincerely advised to bring alcohol, a face towel or labakara, a cap or hat, shades, a mini fan, mint candies, haplas, or essential oils, and most importantly, you should still secure your face mask. Bring an extra one, too, in case you or your friend need some. [2]

Tight security will be implemented during the Sinulog Festival 2023, starting with the gun ban recommended by the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to the Police Regional Office (PRO) of Central Visayas. The PRO ensures the safety, peace, order, and public’s enjoyment of the festivities. The gun ban is currently imposed in all areas of Cebu Province and Metro Cebu, which is a week before the celebrations of the Sinulog Festival.


List down the famous landmarks of Cebu in finding your way to the festivities.



Sinulog Festival 2023 – Festival in Cebu – Sto. Nino Festival in Cebu, Sto. Nino festival in Cebu

You can plan your festival itinerary as early as possible if you want to experience all the festival activities.

Image: Sinulog Festival - Cebu, Philippines Facebook page

As for the tourists, you can navigate your way to Cebu by familiarizing yourself with the famous landmarks at the SRP World Tent City so you and your friends wouldn’t lose your way during the festival celebrations. You can also tour and visit these landmarks to remember to relish the fun of the festival in Cebu while you are still exploring Queen City. These spots include the NUSTAR Resort and Casino, the CCLEX Bridge, where you can easily pass through going to the SRP grounds, San Pedro Calungsod Church, SM Seaside Cebu, IL Corso Lifemalls, and Cebu Ocean Park. [3]


What to expect more in the Sinulog Festival 2023



Sinulog Festival 2023 – Festival in Cebu – Sto. Nino Festival in Cebu, Sinulog Festival 2023

Mark your calendars for the highlights of the Sinulog Festival—that’s January 15!

Images: Sinulog Festival - Cebu, Philippines Facebook page

There are a lot of fun and cultural activities to relish during this grand Sinulog Festival in Cebu, just like the dances you can witness during the Grand Street Parade—and yes, they are back physically to liven up the streets! The term ‘Sinulog’ is derived from ‘sulog’, meaning ‘like water current movement’. These forward-backward movements are then showcased in the Sinulog dance. The Grand Street Parade is usually held on the third Sunday of January, and you can watch out for this event which generally starts around 8:00 AM and to 9:00 AM during the festival’s highlights. During Sunday night, the highlight of the Sinulog Festival 2023, you can enjoy watching pyro-musical shows plus beautiful fireworks displays that you will surely enjoy.

Before the activities during the highlights, you can also join street parties, have a food trip in the festival’s food bazaars, explore the city, and join the solemn procession during the fluvial parade.


The grand festivals of the Philippines are finally back to live up to the spirits of every Filipino. Celebrating traditions, culture, and history, the Sinulog Festival is one way of thanking the Lord for guiding the country throughout the struggles that it faced in the past year. Indeed, this festival is a remarkable way to open the year with joy and gratefulness! Viva, Pit Senor! Viva Senor Santo Nino!


For more information and updates on the festivals in the Philippines, subscribe to Yoorekka Magazine now!


Stay safe as you travel! Make sure to follow social distancing protocols and observe health precautions. For now, keep safe!



Sources:
[1] https://bit.ly/3GDCyUP
[2] https://bit.ly/3ZaBj6Y
[3] https://bit.ly/3GFTjil


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About Mira Maestrecampo
Mira - with a long surname - is a girl who dreams of becoming a news anchor someday, in God's perfect time. She loves to read books and eat different kinds of cheesy or saucy food. A coffee addict and a dog lover, she loves long hugs, hot coffee on an afternoon break with friends, or simply sleeping all day with her stuffed unicorns.
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Disclaimer: All articles in the Consumers Magazine of Yoorekka are for general information and entertainment purposes only. Although careful research has been made in writing them, Yoorekka does not make any warranty about the completeness and accuracy of all information presented in our articles. Our content is not intended to be used in place of legal, medical, or any professional advice.
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