When everybody flocks to Cebu…..
The annual celebration of the Sinulog Festival is being held in the Queen City of the South to honor the miraculous child Jesus, the Sto. Niño. People from all walks of life from all over the world flocked to Cebu to celebrate the grandest parade in the Philippines! Each year, the crowd gets thicker and thicker and this 2013 has the utmost stat with a count of 1.2 million people! (www.newsinfo.inquirer.net)
The Sinulog parade was first held in 1980 wherein students dressed in moro-moro costumes danced to the beat of the drums. The dance depicted the water current (sulog in Cebuano) from which the word Sinulog comes from, having a forward-backward-forward movement. (www.mysmarschools.ph) I am so blessed that since I was little, I’ve been witnessing such ostentatious festivities because I was promised to Senior Sto. Niño for my good health.
In every parade, there are groups (tribu) in compet with each other. And in every group, there’s always that somebody who acts as a leader bearing the image of the Sto. Niño. I am always delighted every time I see them because they are always beautiful. Apart from possessing ethereal beauty, they are also very graceful in their sways, struts, and sashays. I even dreamed of becoming one of them but I didn’t know what they are called. But after years of watching them admiringly and doing some research, I now learned that they are called the Sinulog Princesses.
Not just a pretty face, the Sinulog Princess plays a vital role in the tribu.
She’s recognized to be the leader from whom the whole group relies upon.
She protects her tribu by not committing mistakes that may sabotage the group.
She has to be strong so she could stand up for her tribu when adversaries arise.
She must behave herself properly to be a good role model to all young females in her tribu.
She must portray how to pay tribute to Señor Sto. Niño with proper respect and reverence like an innocent child.
And just like any other princesses, she must also represent her kingdom with real grace, glamour, and elegance. So all Sinulog Princesses must present herself as fabulous as she could!
Truly, people flock to Cebu for these spectacular shows of the event. But we have to be reminded that the celebration is for the child Jesus. Just as the Sinulog princesses do, we must lift Him up to the highest and be exalted at all times. For with or without image, we can worship God in spirit and in truth. So come and set your heart on fire for life again in Cebu!
Viva Pit Senyor!
Wanna visit Cebu to experience the exhilarating Sinulog Festival drum beats? Visit Sinulog Festival: How to Navigate the Philippines’ Grandest Mardi Gras for Sinulog Festival survival tips and recommendations.
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