Sinulog's venue attracting high turnout of contingents

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Raymond Garcia denied calling in for help from Gov. Gwen Garcia or from anyone else to send more contingents for this year's Sinulog celebrations. He said he only asked the governor to support the Sinulog.

Mayor Garcia believed that it's the venue itself, the Cebu City Sports Center, that attracted contingents to take part in this year's grand Sinulog festivities. The mayor said he has not even marketed it yet.

This, as Gov. Garcia confirmed her participation for this year's highly anticipated Sinulog celebrations.

Mayor Garcia issued the statement after contingents for Sinulog 2025 have already reached 42, including out-of-towners, which is more than double compared to last year’s number of participants.

“Wa ko nanawag og mga mayor ug ubang mga lugar nga pangapil mo…I never even lifted a fingers to call somebody, not even the Governor,” he said. “Wako mutawag nga Gov padalhi mi'g contingent diri…Wa. I never said a single word...All I told her was support the Sinulog. I never told her nga pagdag kinse kabuok contingent para nindot, alegre."

The mayor attributed the high turnout of contingents to the venue.

“Ingon ani ka grabe ka excited ang mga tawo sa Sinulog 2025. And what is the reason? The reason I always say is atong gibalik sa sentro sa syudad sa Sugbo, which is Abellana (Cebu City Sports Center),” he said.

In the last two previous years under the administration of former mayor Michael Rama, the Sinulog grand parade was held at the South Road Properties.

Garcia said he advised the concerned departments and agencies during the event’s coordination meeting at the Cebu City Social Hall last Friday to anticipate a big volume of revelers during the grand Sinulog parade.

Meanwhile, Gov. Garcia has confirmed her participation in the upcoming Sinulog. She will be dancing with the City of Naga’s Dagitab Festival, the grand champion in last year’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo.

“This is not just a prayer offering to the Sñr. Sto. Niño, this is also in thanksgiving because finally the Sinulog is back where it belongs, nga gibalik ang Sinulog sa dakbayan sa Sugbo sa mga katawhan. Dili didto sa hilabihang layoa ug init kaayo nga SRP,” Gov. Garcia said.

The governor said she will definitely be wearing the patented luminous costume of the Dagitab Festival dancers.

“I cannot do nothing less. I cannot be appearing there nga wala koy suga,” she said.

The governor also welcomed the decision of the Cebu City Government to no longer hold the Sinulog sa Lalawigan and the Sinulog sa Dakbayan by accommodating all performances in the grand ritual showdown.

Aside from saving on cost, she added that the move also shows a united Cebu in praise and thanksgiving to the Sto. Niño.

The governor clarified that her annual participation in the Sinulog is not an opportunity to attract attention but a fulfillment of her vow to the Sto. Niño to always dance, whenever she is able, as long as she is Cebu Governor, as part of her “duty” as Cebu’s highest ranked local chief executive.

"Every time I participate, it is not to bring the spotlight to myself,” she said.

“I always offer this as a prayer for all of Cebu — karon dili lang para sa lalawigan apan sa tibuok Sugbo — to our Sñr. Sto. Niño. Nga unta hatagan ta niya og giya, labi na kaming mga lideres, giya sa pahimutang og mga polisiya ug paghimog mga desisyon nga sa kanunay ang kaayohan sa kadaghanan maoy mopatigbabaw." — (FREEMAN)