Rain or shine, Sinulog parade a go
Metro Cebu is likely to experience rains in time for the Sinulog festivities this weekend but organizers said that rain or shine, the Sinulog Grand Parade will go on as scheduled at the Cebu City Sports Center.
“Gipreparasyonan kay pag-December pa lang, nagadvance man ta og weather forecast nga karong buwana, dunay pag-uwan. But during the Sinulog day, walay kausaban sa atong preparasyon, regardless og mag-uwan or mag-init, magpadayon gyod atong Sinulog Grand Parade,” Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak, executive committee chairman of the Sinulog Foundation Inc., told The FREEMAN yesterday.
Tumulak said no other venues can accommodate the props, spectators, and the grand stage for performing contingents.
Only a storm signal marked by heavy rains will cause the cancellation or postponement of the Sinulog Grand Parade on January 21, he said.
Unfavorable weather is predicted over the weekend, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
PAGASA Cebu officer-in-charge Alfredo Quiblat Jr. said conditions over Metro Cebu this Saturday and Sunday may be disrupted due to rain-producing weather systems like the tail-end of a cold front and the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
Quiblat said a developing low pressure area was also observed yesterday embedded with the ITCZ; the trough (or extension) of the former brought about rains and gloomy skies over Cebu and other areas in Visayas and Mindanao regions.
He said the LPA was spotted yesterday afternoon hovering over the seas about 540 kilometers east of Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur. However, there is a low chance that it will develop into a tropical cyclone, locally known as “bagyo.”
This Wednesday and Thursday, Quiblat said, skies over Metro Cebu may be partly cloudy but the sun may show up from time to time. He added that isolated rains or thunderstorms may occur, too.
On Friday, skies may be partly cloudy to cloudy with rains ranging from light to moderate.
Quiblat explained that PAGASA’s extended forecast yesterday is only limited until Friday since the agency provides predictions only for a five-day period.
But based on projected scenarios, Quiblat said that on Saturday, during the fluvial procession, light to moderate rains may occur while skies may be mostly cloudy due to either the ITCZ or the tail-end of a cold front.
Basilica rector Father Ric Anthony Reyes, also the secretary of the Fiesta Señor 2018 committee, said there are back up plans in case seas will be rough.
“If bad weather will not allow us (to cross the seas), then the most we can do is a motorcade back to the Basilica,” he said.
With the expected intermittent rains, Tumulak advised the public taking part in the festivities to bring umbrellas and raincoats. So far, he said, there are no changes to the program for the grand parade on Sunday.
After a Mass at 7 a.m., the parade that will feature 32 contingents will immediately start.