CEBU CITY?For a festival created to rival other festivals around the country, the Sinulog Festival has come a long way this year as it attracted up to 8 million people on Sunday, according to police.

Police made the crowd estimate, saying the figure included the number of people who were on the parade route, spectators inside the Cebu City Sports Center grandstand and the Basilica del Sto. Niño Pilgrim Center.

?It was record-breaking,? said Vice Mayor Michael Rama, Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) overall chair.

Rama said the rains did not stop the people from joining the annual event.

Most of them were Sto. Niño devotees from other provinces and countries, but many others were foreign tourists.

Overflowing streets

The fluvial parade, which was the traditional transfer of the image of the Child Jesus and the Blessed Virgen de la Guadalupe from Mandaue City to Cebu City, on Saturday drew thousands of devotees who braved the rains and strong winds.

Spectators filled the two bridges linking Cebu mainland to Mactan Island to witness the parade?s passing.

In the afternoon, an estimated 2.3 million people joined the solemn procession amid rains and despite the longer route.

However, the final day of the Sinulog Festival drew the most people.

Satur and company

A sea of people filled the six-kilometer parade route.

Politicians were also visible as Sinulog organizers said they could not prevent them from joining the annual event.

Presidential candidate Sen. Manuel Villar, vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda and some Nacionalista Party (NP) senatorial candidates marched along the parade route and shook hands with people, giving media interviews along the way.

Satur Ocampo, Bayan Muna representative and NP guest senatorial candidate, was also in the parade route.

Ocampo?s staff members, who also joined the parade, wore shirts with his name.