CEBU, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III confirmed yesterday that he will be attending the Sinulog Mardi Gras and will be at the Cebu City Sports Center tomorrow.
Mayor Michael Rama told The Freeman that he received a call yesterday afternoon from the Office of the President informing him that Aquino has accepted his invitation to attend the grand parade since he will be in the Visayas to visit areas that were hit by landslides and heavy rains.
Rama said that since this is the first public appearance of the President, he will be given time to speak to the crowd that would be gathered before the grand stage.
The mayor said that the Sinulog organizers are already prepared to strengthen the security plan for tomorrow’s grand parade even before President Aquino’s confirmation to attend the festival.
Prior to the confirmation of Aquino’s attendance, the officials from the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and the Presidential Security Group (PSG) called the Sinulog organizers to ask for the time and details of the parade and the flow of the program at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Rama, however, asked the public for understanding that may some disruption to the parade because of the president’s arrival and presence.
BAROMETER
Meanwhile, the number of participants to this afternoon’s solemn procession will be the “barometer” that the religious significance of the Sinulog has not been forgotten amid all the merriment and commercialization of the festival.
“If the solemn procession tomorrow (today) will reduce compare to last year then maka-ingon ta nga naka-compete gyud ang commercialization,” said Rama, who is also the over-all chairman of the Sinulog activity.
The procession of the Miraculous Image, held on the day before the feast, has always been both a spiritual and emotional experience for people.
Each time the image passes by people, they drop to their knees, they clap, they wave, and they cry, many unable to explain why.
Even those who experience the feeling the first time cannot help but cry again just recounting their encounter with the Santo Nino’s overwhelming presence.
Rama also belied claims of commercialization.
“It is not commercialized,” the mayor said. He said that if there is an activity or a celebration it only follows that there would be a lot of economic activity.
THE FEAST
The participation of contingents from other provinces has always been one of the biggest attractions of the Sinulog, and often these contingents emerge big winners in every edition.
The Sinulog used to be a dance of veneration, performed mostly by candle vendors on church grounds at the behest of candle buyers.
In 1980, the Sinulog was stylized into a festival dance and was held on the streets around the Basilica del Santo Nino, which is the home of the Holy Image that was given as a gift by Ferdinand Magellan to Cebu’s King Humabon and Queen Juana on their conversion to Christianity in 1521.
Today, the Sinulog has eclipsed other festivals in the Philippines, largely because of the support by the local government. –/NLQ (FREEMAN)