The feast is dedicated to the Holy Child, the Sto. Niño de Cebu. While original versions of the festival in honor of Santo Niño are held in other places including Kabankalan City, Maasin City, Balingasag Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro City, Butuan City and Pagadian City, the festival in Cebu is the biggest of them all.
Every year, pilgrims from all around the country make their way to Cebu to take part in the festive procession. The wide celebration annually attracts to Cebu between 1 to 2 million people from across the Philippines.
The main event of the festival is a grand procession of teams dressed in Knitted Filipiniana costumes, dancing the Sinulog to the beating of drums. Visitors partake in fun and celebrations cherring up their favourite troupes. The Sinulog Parade focuses on the historical aspects of the dance, which represents the link the country's embrace of Christian faith. Each year, five Sinulog winners are selected.
Cebu to Host Annual Sinulog-Santo Niño Festival
News in Asia
Cebu, the Philippines, is preparing for the most important and popular festival of the year, the annual cultural and religious Sinulog-Santo Niño Festival. Celebrated on the third Sunday of January, this year the festivities fall on January, 19.