Dubai celebrates Sinulog Jan. 29
SUCCESSFUL. This year’s Sinulog festival last Jan. 17 was another successful staging of the annual grand parade in honor of Señor Sto. Niño. The weather cooperated—it didn’t rain, unlike what happened last year when some Sinulog dancers slid on the wet and slippery stage. The grand finale at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) was an amazing presentation of international dancing pairs followed by the traditional grand fireworks display.
SUGGESTIONS. But some friends volunteered a few suggestions, which to me are valid, to improve next year’s Sinulog Grand Parade. For instance, retired educator and former education regional director Recaredo Borgonia suggested that there should be a mechanism to make the presentation or introduction of each participating contingent less time-consuming. As in previous Sinulog dance presentations on the massive CCSC stage, gaps in between contingents could easily be observed. This is because setting up those large props takes time. I should know because as emcee of the day-long grand parade, I observed that those gaps were unavoidable but could be minimized.
DUBAI. Still on Sinulog, do you know that Filipinos—particularly Cebuanos/Visayans—in Dubai are also holding their own version of the Sinulog festival? Paolo Alforte, head of marketing and promotion of the 2016 Sinulog sa UAE (United Arab Emirates), e-mailed that for the fourth year, his organization will once again stage the lovely and colorful Sinulog on Jan. 29 at the Al Safa Stadium in Dubai.
REPLICA. Alforte said the Sinulog in Dubai is a replica of Cebu’s own festival. “The event showcases the beauty of the Filipino identity and culture through one whole day of dancing and merrymaking,” he added. By the way, one of the participating dancers during the Dubai Sinulog is the lovely Julianne Jumao-as Nur, a former teleserye actress of the Cebu Catholic Television Network channel 47. We used to appear together in some teleseryes written and produced by her mom Restie, who is presently connected with the drama production department of dySS.
STARSTRUCK. I have long been a big fan of this amazing performer. So when the opportunity to meet her up close and personal came last Jan. 15, I made sure we would have some souvenir pictures taken. And I was starstruck! I’m referring to one of the icons in the field of entertainment, our fellow Cebuano, the one and only Pilita Corrales a.k.a. Asia’s Queen of Songs. I met her backstage at the Cebu Coliseum during the 36th Cebu Popular Music Festival.
HONOR. Corrales came as guest performer of the songwriting festival where lawyer Eduardo Gullas, father of the Cebu Arts Foundation Inc., presented to her a plaque of appreciation for her great contribution to the growth and promotion of Cebuano songs. As usual, during her short performance, Pilita wowed the massive crowd with her delightful style of singing. What an amazing entertainer!