Rama: Sinulog should be about Sto. Niño

Don’t focus on the number of contingents, but on the essence of the Sinulog itself.

This was the message of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama two days before the Sinulog Grand Showdown at the South Road Properties, amidst concerns raised on how there are lesser contingents participating this year.

The mayor, in a press conference yesterday, showed part of his previous files that are said to be documentations on the previous Sinulog festivals, especially during the time when he was already directly involved.

Rama disclosed that there were only a few of them involved in the cultural side of the Sinulog until more events were added.

He said it was in 2012 that the Department of Education first staged the “Pahinungod”—an offering of love for Sto. Niño at Fuente Osmena and the Lalawigan that paved the way to the “Bangga sa Sinulog sa Kabataan”.

“Mao na siya, walay Dakbayan, ug walay Lalawigan ug walay DepEd!” Rama emphasized.

The mayor also disclosed that over the years, the prizes and the Sinulog budget has increased.

But Rama said it should not even be about the budget and the number of contingents.

“Ayaw na mog sige’g pangutana pila’y budget, ikaduha pila’y contingent…parehas ra na sa storya ba nga unsa man ng nawng ninyo, contingent ra gyud? Wa mo ni focus unsa gyuy Sinulog?” said Rama.

The mayor emphasized not to miss the essence of the Sinulog, a dance ritual in honor of the Child Jesus, Señor Sto. Niño.

“Kana ra bang Sinulog, e-miss nimo ang iyang essence, bata gud na…mangluod na… mangluod na,” Rama stressed.

Despite some challenges though still coming off the Covid-19 pandemic, he hopes that everything will turn out well.

“The way I’m seeing now, I wish, but siya (Sto. Niño) ra man gyuy magbuot unya. All’s well, that ends well,” Rama said.

On the other hand, for the benefit of those who continue to ask for updates, Rama said there are more contingents seeing action this time as compared to last year for the dance ritual showdown alone.

Based on information released by the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) so far there are eight contingents for the Sinulog-based category and nine confirmed entries for the Free Interpretation category.

This makes a total of 17 with the SFI giving until midnight of Jan. 19 to confirm participation. Earlier this week, Rama has confirmed that they have tripled the prizes for both Sinulog-base and Free Interpretation categories.

There are also some guest contingents this Sunday including the Cebu City Government, ChunCheon Nongak Preservation Association from Korea, Bacolod Masskara Festival of Bacolod City, and the Bureau of Fire Protection Region-7.

Together with the other events, there are now 123 participants including for the floats, puppeteers, cosplayers, higantes and others.