Foundation starts sale of Sinulog tickets

Tickets for the Sinulog Grand Showdown on Jan. 20 are available for sale at the Sinulog Foundation office in Cebu City Sports Complex.

Preparations for the grand parade are already 80 percent complete, said organizers.

Many spectators have bought tickets to watch dance contingents perform on stage and compete for cash prizes and trophies.

Edilita Dampor was among the early birds in the Sinulog Foundation office yesterday to buy her ticket for the grand showdown.

“I was not able to buy tickets last year and I ended up unable to see the entire presentation of each contingent. This year, I’ll be able to enjoy it more if I get a ticket and sit and watch everything,” she said.

Ephigenia Nicer bought seven tickets for her and her relatives, who will be coming from Leyte.

“They wanted me to buy tickets for them. There will be visiting contingents from Leyte and they want to watch their performance,” said Nicer.

Color-coded tickets are being sold at year-ago levels.

White tickets are still sold at P700, yellow at P600, and green and pink at P500.

Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of the Sinulog Foundation, said that as observed every year, balikbayans will be given a special section in the grandstand if the buy tickets at P1,000 each.

“We will be strict in assessing the tickets on the day of the performance to make sure that there will be no fake tickets. To make sure also that you have a valid Sinulog ticket, buy it here in the Sinulog Foundation office. For balikbayans, we will have booth in Ayala Center Cebu. They just need to show their plane tickets and passport,” says Ballesteros.

Ballesteros said that preparations are 80 percent complete for this year’s celebration.

The opening Salvo will be on January 11 and on January 12 will be the competition for Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan.

Carousel billboards are in place showing the different sites of Cebu. Festive lights along the grand parade route are already installed and so as the arcs and tarpaulins along the Osmeña Boulevard.

Around eight out-of-town contingents confirmed that that they will be joiningt the parade and competitive.

At least 40 dance contingents are expected to join the grand parade.