More peaceful Sinulog

For the past days I have been in and out of the Basilica Minore Del Sto. Niño and the Cebu City Sports Center for work. Like I have disclosed in the past years, I don't personally celebrate Sinulog but the festivities make me very excited as a Cebuana. I understand it is part of culture. As expected, everybody is suddenly in a festive mood especially with the kickoff last Friday and the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan and sa Barangay over the weekend, except for those who rant on social media on how the new rules of the festival are a major killjoy.

There are people who still think that Sinulog is the time to party and get drunk. I still remember when I was in the middle of a sea of people around General Maxilom Avenue, unable to move because of the crowd. They were raising their hands in the air, waving their bottles of liquor and giving free hugs. Boys randomly kissed girls saying "Pit Senyor!" My best friend once screamed when a foreigner placed his face close to hers and yelled the greeting. It was awful, I could say. That was the only time during my college days when I went out to grab a few photos (for schoolwork) but it was a terrible experience.

As early as now, there are already a lot of policemen around the parade route for the different activities. It isn't as noisy as it used to be going to Colon Street, and the vendors are well spread at different areas around the route. There are about five days left before the grand parade and the worst is yet to come. However, with the active chairmanship of Councilor Dave Tumulak and the other sectors who are willingly trying their best to keep the festival at a minimum, I think this will be the most peaceful Sinulog.

I guess there will be no drunken teenagers lying down in the streets of the metro by dawn. As a reporter, I could be confident to roam around the streets for news and not get painted or worse -receive random kisses from strangers. Sinulog used to be a big thing because the family can go out and enjoy the sights, whatever your religion may be and I guess it's time we go back to that. This year there is a diminishing number of people who are expressing their creativity through puppets, higantes, and floats. Let's bring that back too.

This is about the appreciation of culture and the arts. If we don't encourage those who have talent and let them think that it is about partying all day long, it is the wrong impression of the festival. We need to make Cebu a place where both locals and foreigners can focus their attention on what makes it a good place to go to with or without the Sinulog. How we handle the situation is key, let's cooperate with the officials.