More contingents in Sinulog next year

There will be more contingents who will participate in next year’s Sinulog Festival according to Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak, chairman of the Sinulog Executive Committee.

As yesterday, 34 contingents have signified to join the parade and showdown, 20 of them will be performing in the Sinulog sa Barangayan. They are from barangays Labangon, Duljo Fatima, Sawang Calero, Basak San Nicolas, Tisa (Barangay Mayor’s Office), Bacayan, Tisa, San Roque, Bulacao, Buhisan, Apas (Barangay Mayor’s Office), Sta. Cruz, Mambaling, Guadalupe, Mabolo, Cogon- Pardo, Lahug, Sapangdaku, San Nicolas Proper and Pasil.

There are at least seven participants in the Sinulog sa Lalawigan and they are from Naga City, Tuburan, Ginatilan Elementary School, Ginatilan High School, Talisay City, Carcar City and Bogo City.

Unlike in the past that only the winners in the Sinulog sa Kabataan and Sinulog sa Lalawigan will have a chance to join the grand parade and showdown, next year, all the contingents can participate.

So far, there are seven out-of-town contingents who have signified to join. They are from Panglao-Bohol; Kidapawan City; Catbalogan, Samar; Dumaguete City; Abuyog, Leyte; Bais City, Negros Oriental and Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

This year, there were 23 contingents that joined the grand parade and showdown.

“There is a possibility that the number will increase because the Sinulog is still next year,” Tumulak said.

Tumulak believes devotion was the possible reason for the increase in the number of contingents.

Tumulak said as directed by the mayor, all students in the city are not allowed to be dance troupe members so their studies will not be affected.

In October 2016, the Department of Education-Cebu City issued a memorandum prohibiting schools from joining the festival.

Meanwhile, Tumulak revealed that instead of Fuente Osmeña, Plaza Independencia will now be the new starting point for the Sinulog sa Kabarangayan.

The billeting quarters for the contingents will be Abellana National School, Cebu City Central School, Regino Mercado School, Zapatera Elementary School.

He also said that for the float competition, the entries must have a spiritual aspect unlike in the past when the presentation was mostly “commercial.”

For the higante, entries should also be religious.

On the security aspect, he is not certain yet if cell sites will be shut down during the Sinulog as they have yet to discuss the matter with the Philippine National Police and telecommunication companies.