AFTER a two-year break when the Sinulog Festival was held at the South Road Properties (SRP) in 2023 and 2024, one of the largest cultural and religious festivals in the country has returned to its roots.
On Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, the streets of Cebu City were once again alive with the sound of the Sinulog theme song, “Pit Senyor!” as the grand parade reverted to its pre-pandemic carousel route that took 44 contingents from the exit of the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) to P. del Rosario St., Imus Ave., Gen. Maxilom Ave., Fuente Rotunda, Osmeña Blvd. then to the entrance of the CCSC.
The grandstand at the CCSC was filled to the brim, as the crowd eagerly awaited the performances of the contingents for the ritual showdown.
“We are seeing record-breaking numbers. The vibe of Sinulog is back, and people are now feeling the fiesta mood, but what you have seen is still the tip of the iceberg. Inig kagabie ani, you will see the play of lights. Mas grabe later. Mas enjoyable later, so abangan ang next contingents,” Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia told VoxPop Cebu in an interview on Sunday.
Around 7,000 security personnel were deployed to ensure the successful staging of the Sinulog Festival.
As of 5 p.m., the event was “generally peaceful,” based on the mayor’s initial assessment.
“The crowd control, okay kaayo. We have deployed 7,000 security personnel and they are doing okay,” Garcia said in a mix of English and Cebuano.
Business response
According to the estimates of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Cebu City Police Office, around four million flocked to the entire city for the event.
Garcia said business owners and small entrepreneurs were happy with the City Government’s decision to bring the grand parade back to the city center.
“As early as December, fully booked na sila (the hotels were fully booked),” he said. “The restaurants are also seeing an increase in their customers and the vendors -- those who are selling water, banana cue, barbecue, among others -- are seeing an emergence of people coming in the center of Cebu, so nahalinan gyud intawon sila (they ended up with brisk sales),” he said.
“I’ve spoken to HRRACI (Hotel Resort & Restaurant Association of Cebu Inc.) and they are very, extremely happy with our decision (to return to the pre-pandemic route and venue),” he added.
Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Jay Yuvallos said that aside from its religious and cultural significance, the Sinulog Festival plays a crucial and vital role in driving inclusive creative economies.
“The resumption of the parade in its original route supports city hotels, hostels, pension houses, restaurants, transportation services, small businesses as well as micro and nano enterprises i.e. food stalls, souvenir shops and other services especially located in downtown Cebu as they thrive during the festival,” he said.
“Moreover, we recognize the efforts of the Cebu City Traffic Office for the better traffic management. The team is strict in imposing no entry and partly no entry to allow smoother and orderly conduct of the festivities,” he said.
“With over 40 contingents, the 2025 Sinulog Festival, with all the display of pomp and pagaentry, is certainly one of the grandest festivals in the country,” he added.
The return of the Sinulog Festival to its pre-pandemic route and venue was specially appreciated by small vendors and the general public.
Boost in sales
By making the venue more “accessible” and “convenient” significantly enhanced the overall experience of spectators who showed up in droves.
Jubillie Ann, a vendor selling Sinulog accessories, was delighted.
“I’m making 10 percent more now compared to when the Sinulog Festival was held at the SRP,” she said in Cebuano.
She admitted that her business suffered in the two years the event was held at the SPR, citing its vastness and remoteness, which attracted fewer customers.
“At SRP, the place is big, but the earnings are slow,” she said in Cebuano.
Suraya Alcordo, a water vendor, also reported an increase in sales.
She pointed out several disadvantages of the SRP location, bringing up concerns of the intense heat, lack of shade, distance and limited accessibility for vehicles.
Dodong Quirol, a long-time attendee of the Sinulog Festival, echoed their sentiments.
Attending the festival has been a yearly tradition for him and his family, and the return to the old venues brought back a flood of happy memories.
“We can now enjoy our family time because the area is closer compared to the SRP,” he said.
He said his family decided not to attend the festival last year due to concerns about the heat the overwhelming size of the venue.
Quirol highlighted the advantages of the pre-pandemic route, pointing out the abundance of shaded areas and the variety of affordable food stalls along the way.
He said his family’s annual participation in the festival is their way of giving thanks to the Sto. Niño.
For Toni Aguilos, a visitor from Ormoc, he said their expenses this year is lower because not only was the venue more accessible, finding affordable food was also easier.
“Many of us were unhappy with the weather and the situation (last year), as it was extremely hot and the food prices were very expensive,” he said.
Cathlyn Roncal, a student at the Cebu Normal University, said holding the Sinulog Festival in the city center is an advantage for a Cebu City resident like her.
She said she always watched the ritual showdown every year except for the two years when this was held at the SRP.
Although the street congestion proved to be a struggle, she said that it wasn’t as bad as in the previous years.
Not everyone disliked the holding of the Sinulog Festival at the SRP.
Gabriel Pore, a choreographer from Leyte who has attended the Sinulog three times, said he preferred the SRP as a venue because the crowd there was less overwhelming.
“Famous” visitors
Spotted among the throng of visitors were several former and incumbent national officials, including Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Chel Diokno and former senator Bam Aquino.
Celebrities such as Coco Martin and the cast of Batang Quiapo, Kim Chiu, Ian Veneracion and Ruru Madrid were also aboard different floats that followed the carousel route.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who was invited, did not attend.
Meanwhile, Mayor Garcia said they experienced minor issues like the fact that the grand parade was delayed due to the number of spectators on the carousel route.
“Dagsa gyud kaayo ang mga tawo (There were really many people), but I’d rather have that problem nga dagsa ang mga tawo (of having many people), so na-delay (the delay), kaysa sa walay mga tao (than not having any),” he said.
City Health Officer Daisy Villa, for her part, said several participants were taken to the medical station at the CCSC. Majority of them complained of dehydration and hunger, she said.
To ensure that the Sinulog festivities would not be disrupted, Garcia said the City strictly implemented a liquor ban that prohibited the sale of liquor within the 300-meter radius of the grand parade route.
However, he assured the ban would be lifted by 10 p.m.
As to the P33 million assistance that the City Government received from the Provincial Government, the mayor assured that the money will only be used for Sinulog purposes.
“We cannot use it for anything else. Kung di na nato mahurot karong tuig (If we don’t spend it all this year), then we will use it for next year,” he said.
He also said he is considering increasing Sinulog subsidies and prizes next year. (LMY/CAV/JPS/CDF/KCL)