Gwen assures full support for Sinulog 2025

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has promised the Cebu City government of her full support for the Sinulog 2025.

“You can expect our more than one hundred thousand percent for the Sinulog. Unya kanang musulti baya ta we put our money where our mouth is,” she told Cebu City acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia during the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2024 final coordination Friday evening.

Last Wednesday, during the opening of the One Cebu Expo at SM Seaside City Cebu, the acting mayor announced that for 2025, the Sinulog will be back at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).

The next day, he told reporters that the City needs to already prepare for Sinulog 2025 in September. And since he is still the mayor that month, he made the announcement so the venue is already clear this early.

He said he had to listen to the concerns raised against holding the Sinulog at the South Road Properties, especially by the dancers.

Acting Mayor Garcia had said that if Mayor Michael Rama would change the venue upon his return on Nov. 10, it would just be up to him.

Last Friday, Governor Garcia said that spectators and visitors will surely be back in the upcoming Sinulog because it is back at the CCSC.

“Actually, mubalik na gyud tong daghang tao kung ari sa City Sports (Center). Kay naa na man ang parade, ang tanan, mubalik ang kasadya sa Sinulog,” she said.

“That’s the essence of Sinulog, ang kasadya gyud, ug malipay ang Señor Sto. Niño,” she added.

Governor Garcia, in jest, further said that private companies should double their sponsorships for the city for the Sinulog 2025.

She said that the Sinulog in Cebu City is widely known, with spectators, including foreign nationals, reaching over a million for the past years when it was held in the CCSC, which is also referred to as “Abellana”.

“So, I think mubalik gyud na, especially the good news is out that it will be held no longer at the SRP but right here at the heart of the city, sa Cebu City Sports Center. Salamat gyud kaayo mayor, daghan kaayong nalipay ana nga announcement,” the governor said.

Rama, who is still under preventive suspension after four employees complained before the Office of the Ombudsman that they were not paid of their salary for 10 months, moved the Sinulog to the SRP in 2023 and in 2024.

For this year, however, the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan and the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, which happens a week before the Sinulog, which is held every third Sunday of January, were also conducted at the CCSC. — (FREEMAN)