Grand production to cap Sinulog 2017
A grand finale production composed of over 300 performers will cap the Sinulog Grand Parade on Sunday in lieu of the traditional fireworks display.
Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of Sinulog Foundation Incorporated, said that even without fireworks display the spectators can still look forward to witnessing something spectacular in the grand finale.
"No fireworks for the grand finale but you know the grand finale is spectacular. We have special effects in our grand finale," he said.
In a round table discussion with THE FREEMAN, Ballesteros said the grand fireworks display was cancelled because of security reason. Ballesteros said the public should not miss the grand parade because there will be "something spectacular" to happen.
"It's something to look forward. Something you haven't seen from the past Sinulog Grand Finale. Something you haven't seen in any big event in Cebu. Even the stage will also coordinate with the music because it will have different lights," he said.
Dubbed as La Fiesta Cebuana, Ballesteros said the grand finale is more of Latin music which is fast and modern with a Sinulog twist.
"Well, we want to close the Sinulog with a bang. It's very monotonous to hear the Sinulog beats. In the past years, it's very cultural type finale," he said.
He said the Sinulog stage has been designed with white cloth so as not to compete with the colors and costumes of the contingents. The past Sinulog Festival Queens from 2013 to 2016 will lead grand finale.
They are Miss Earth Jamie Herrell (2013), Christine Jael Abellanosa (2014), Julienne Hazel Penserga (2015) and Cynthia Thomalla (2016).
Ballesteros said the Sinulog Festival Queens will be wearing the creations of Cebuano designers while the 300 dancers will be wearing lighted costumes. Because of this year's concept, he said the grand finale has to be presented at night.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña wanted to end the grand parade at 4:30 p.m. but Ballesteros said he told the mayor that there will be no contingents in the streets after 5 p.m., however, the performances will continue at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Ballesteros said the organizers targeted to finish by 9 p.m. since for the first time in several years the winners will be announced immediately after the grand finale.
He said he tapped the management of SM Seaside City, SM City Cebu, and Ayala Center Cebu to have their own grand fireworks display after the grand finale so that people will have choices where to go after the parade.