PIT SENYOR – Sinulog Festival i n honor of the Santo Nino de Cebu in 2019. (PHOTO COURTESY OF CEBU DAILY NEWS)
CEBU CITY – The week-long activities for the Sinulog Festival in honor of Santo Niño de Cebu was officially launched on Friday afternoon.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, along with other local officials, led the kickoff parade from the Basilica del Santo Niño to the Cebu City Sports Center.
The parade was participated in by the different universities and colleges in Metro Cebu.
Dancing contingents in colorful costumes, depicting different festivals from all over the Philippines with a twist of the Sinulog beat perked up the festivities.
The student dancers capped off the parade with a showdown at the sports complex along with a fireworks display.
The Sinulog grand parade on January 15 will be staged for the first time at the South Road Properties, a reclamation area away from the city proper.
Observers said that transportation going to the venue might be difficult for many spectators.
According to Col. Ireneo Dalogdog, Cebu City Police Office director, the regional police has already sought a request from the National Telecommunications Commission to shut down cell phone signals on the grand parade as a precautionary measure against those who want to disrupt the festival and sow terror in Cebu.
Dalogdog said local officials, including Rama, are not keen on imposing a shut down of mobile phone signals as this may cause even bigger problems.
“Officials from Cebu City asked us if it’s possible not to impose a signal shutdown. That is still for discussion before we can finalize what should really be done,” he said in an interview during the opening parade.
Last Thursday, the Augustinian friars of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu launched the religious activities related to the Fiesta Señor, including the in-person novena masses.