Don’t accept support from gambling

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Archbishop Alberto S. Uy has issued an appeal urging organizers of Sinulog 2026 to refrain from accepting sponsorships and financial support from gambling establishments, stressing that such partnerships contradict the values of the Santo Niño and risk undermining the festival’s sacred character.

“The Sinulog is not merely a cultural event or a tourism activity. It is, above all, a religious celebration, rooted in our faith and centered on the Child Jesus. Its spiritual meaning must be preserved, protected, and respected,” Uy said in a publicly posted appeal on his social media page.

Uy’s appeal comes after reports that an online gambling operator, a casino, and alcoholic brands were among this year’s major sponsors, despite a Cebu City Council resolution passed last December banning gambling advertisements across physical and digital platforms.

“Let the Sinulog remain a festival that truly reflects the joy, purity, and light of the Santo Niño. May we honor Him not only with our dances, prayers, and celebrations, but also through the moral choices we make in organizing this sacred event,” he added.

In the same message, Uy warned that gambling sponsorships contradict the innocence and purity symbolized by the Santo Niño.

“Gambling establishments, by their very nature, are associated with behaviors and environments that may lead to addiction, broken families, financial loss, and moral confusion,” he said.

He cautioned that allowing such partnerships “would create scandal—a situation where the faithful might think the Church approves of or tolerates gambling as a lifestyle or form of recreation.”

The archbishop emphasized that the Sinulog is a powerful avenue for evangelization, especially for the youth, adding that accepting support from gambling sectors would risk shifting public perception from a religious feast to a commercial spectacle.

He also stressed that such partnerships could potentially “weaken” its spiritual impact and confuse its true purpose. He further underscored the disproportionate harm gambling inflicts on the poor.

“We cannot ask the Santo Niño to bless our families while inviting support from industries that have, in many cases, contributed to family breakdown and poverty,” the archbishop further said.

Uy encouraged organizers to seek partners that uphold values of faith, family, culture, and community.

“There are many institutions—public and private—that can and will support the festival without compromising its moral character,” he said.

His latest appeal echoes his earlier national stance.

In July 2025, Uy called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to impose a total and permanent ban on online gambling, describing it as a “silent yet devastating storm” that destroys lives, breaks families, and corrupts values. (CEBU NEWS)