Cebuanos urged to keep original Sinulog dance

CEBU, Philippines - Amid the changing times, devotees are called on to keep the Sinulog tradition alive, starting with the “intangible” heritage of the original Sinulog dance ritual.

The original Sinulog dance steps will be showcased anew during the annual “Sinug sa Casa Gorordo” on Monday at 2 p.m., a day after the Sinulog Grand Parade, even though the museum is still undergoing rehabilitation.

The Sinug will be held again in front of the RAFI Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center building across the museum in the historic Parian district since the Casa Gorordo Museum, a historic house museum that showcases 19th century Cebuano-Filipino lifestyle, is closed.

Dr. Jocelyn Gerra, executive director of RAFI’s culture and heritage unit, said Sinug has been a tradition practiced by the Gorordo family and Cebuanos for around 80 years now.

According to Gerra, the Turang Dance Troup from Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City, led by Carolina Diola, daughter of Estelita “Nang Titang” Diola, who is known to Cebuanos as the “keeper of the Sinulog dance and beat,” will perform the Sinulog ritual, showing the original Sinulog dance steps.

The late Nang Titang passed on the dance steps to Carolina before she died in March 2013 due to old age. The keeper learned the authentic Sinulog, or prayer dance from her father, Buenaventura, also known as “Turang.”

Nang Titang was also able to pass on the original Sinulog drum beat to Carolina’s son Rommel Borja. Sinug is a prayer ritual in a form of a dance performed at the altar or before the image of the Holy Child or the Sto. Niño.

The Sinug has two basic steps — the natural and the kinampilan. The natural step is the popularly known two steps forward, one step backward routine. The kinampilan involves one step right forward and one step backward while the left foot stays in place. The dancers wear costumes that resemble the original outfits of the natives and the Spaniards.

Sinug sa Casa Gorordo is a house tradition of the Gorordo family that has been continued by RAFI as part of its commitment to preserve the house traditions in its original form. — (FREEMAN)