CEBU, Philippines - Rain threatened, but no thick cumulonimbus clouds could stop the festive atmosphere that permeated yesterday’s formal opening of the Sinulog festivities, which started with a Holy Mass at the Basilica del Sto. Niño.
St. Therese Parish Church’s Monsignor Roberto Alesna, who celebrated the 2:30 p.m. Novena Mass, emphasized that the struggles we face now are a prelude to what God has really prepared for us.
“When bad things happen to us, God has a positive answer. Whatever it is that we encounter — calamities, relationship problems, God always has an answer, a positive answer,” he said, addressing those in attendance at the Basilica del Sto. Niño Pilgrim Center and the thousands more who spilled into the surrounding streets.
“Even to think of dreaming a dream, let us refer to what God says in the Bible,” he said, as he read Bible verses as reference and testament to God’s love and as reminder when we are in doubt and in trouble.
He recounted the experience of Wilma Estenzo from Tejero, Cebu City whose physical impairment did not bar her from fulfilling her annual devotion and promise to the Holy Child.
Estenzo lost a leg in an accident 13 years ago.
The second chance at life she got after the accident made her promise that she would continue her devotion as her way of thanking God for sparing her.
The 2:30 p.m. Novena Mass was sponsored by the Cebu City Government and the Sinulog Foundation Incorporated, which preceded the Sinulog opening salvo parade participated in by local colleges and universities.
Performers and Miss Cebu beauties who later spiced up the parade towards the Cebu City Sports Complex also joined the Novena Mass, which was also graced by city officials led by Mayor Michael Rama.
The city officials, together with SFI executive director Ricky Ballesteros and project director Dolores Suzara, led the parade from the Basilica to the grandstand at the CCSC.
Ballesteros said the launching ceremony was by far the most-attended and most-grand program.
Cebu City Police Office Officer-in-Charge and Police Regional Office-7 Deputy Regional Director for Operation Conrad Capa was also impressed, saying he was amazed at how disciplined the Cebuanos are.
Being his first time to celebrate and head the security preparations for the Sinulog activities, Capa said that he was so awed with how Cebuanos celebrated the Sinulog.
He said there were no reported crimes during the launching ceremony, which was guarded by 231 of his men.
During the parade, the 12 Miss Cebu candidates road different vintage cars provided by the Volkswagen Club Cebu and Global Star Motors.
Miss Cebu 2014 Cheriemel Diane Muego and Sinulog Festival Queen 2014 Christine Jael Abellanosa of Tuburan, Cebu were also present at the parade, which dance troupes from 17 Cebu colleges and universities participated in.
Ballesteros said SFI introduced some innovations to make this year’s opening salvo parade more lively and grand, one of which was the “Sayaw Cebu” where four schools competed for the liveliest, biggest, and best-choreographed contingent.
Participants were Abellana National High School, Mabolo National High School, Zapatera National High School, and Don Vicente Rama School.
“One of the changes gyud nga atong gibuhat pud karon kay nag-innovate mi kay before, one Sinulog music lang gyud sa parade unya monotonous lang gyud siya. Karon, naa na tay upat ka music gipatukar,” Ballesteros said.
The opening salvo was capped with three-minute fireworks display, with Rama saying it was a “good manifestation that there will be more fascinating and challenging Sinulog 2015 celebration to come.”
“The crowd was huge and the weather was wonderful,” he added. — /RHM (FREEMAN)