Sinulog picked as most popular festival in Asia

A festival association in South Korea has chosen Cebu's Sinulog Festival as the most popular in Asia.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and wife Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña are on a three-day leave to grace the Asian Popularity Festival Award organized by the Korea Festival Contents Association.

Assistant City Administrator Annabeth Cuizon told reporters the couple is expected to receive the honor during 6th Korea Festival Contents Grand Prix for the Asia Popularity Award in Seoul this afternoon.

In giving the citation, the awardgiving body aims to recognize successful and famous festivals in Asia, according to its February 7 letter addressed to the Cebu City government.

“I congratulate on your festival as being selected as the popularity festival award in Asia this year…I hope that you can promote your proud festival to Korea and the world through our award,” the letter read.

Cebu is a favorite destination for many Korean tourists. The Cebu Korean Association, which is composed of Koreans living in the province, introduced the Sinulog to their home country, according to Cebu City Tourism Officer Malou Inocando-Tabar.

Tabar said the city government did not apply for the award.

“Wala man ta nang-apply. Murag formality nalang, sila gyud ang nanghagad. Ang Korean community in Cebu ang ni-push, maoy ni-coordinate sa South Korea for this award,” she said.

Tabar, however, said that before Sinulog was picked, the city sent a video to the awards committee, showing the activities during the Sinulog, including its main attraction, the grand parade.

With the award, Cuizon said the city faces the challenge of coming up with something new for the upcoming Sinulog to attract more tourists.

“It is a challenge for us to do better next year. Because every year, we have to come up with something that is new, that is something that we can be proud of. We don't want that every year we have the same show. We have to come up with another concept that will be more inviting, more attractive for the tourists, both local and foreign,” she said.

Sinulog Foundation Inc. Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros said the foundation did not expect the award but expressed hope that the recognition can translate to more tourist arrivals.

Every time the Sinulog dance is presented in Korea, the Koreans always applaud the performance, said Ballesteros.

“Wala ta nag-expect. Based lang sa pagbalik-balik sa Korea, ganahan sila. They always look forward for Cebu gyud. Sa Korea ma-feel nako nga we are popular compared to Manila,” he said.

“It's a good promotion for Cebu as tourist destination and of course, for the festival, we look forward na nga naay bag-o, not for the city but for the whole Cebu next year,” he added.

In September last year, Lumad Basakanon from Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City finished third place in the 2017 Wonju Dynamic Dancing Carnival in South Korea.

Tribu Lumad Basakanon also topped the international team category in the five-day competition.

Sinulog, arguably the grandest festival in the Philippines, is held every third Sunday of January in Cebu City in honor of the Señor Santo Niño.

It is a dance ritual which showcases the Filipino people's pagan past and their acceptance of Christianity.