The Sinulog is an annual festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City, Philippines, to honor the so called vision of the child Jesus, known as the Santo Niño, who used to be the patron Saint of Cebu (since in the Catholic faith, Jesus is not a saint, but God). This also commemorates the Cebuanos’ pagan past and their acceptance of Roman Catholicism. The word “Sinulog” actually derives from the Cebuano adverb --“sulog”, which means “like water current movement”. It is a ritual dance consisting of two steps forward and one step backward, done to the sound of drums. Do you know where the dance steps derived from?
The Sinulog dance was believed to be originated from Baladhay, the adviser of Rajah Humabon. There was a time when Baladhay was severely sick, Rajah Humabon was totally in outmost grief and then he ordered his tribe to bring his adviser into a chapel where the Santo Niño was enthroned. After a moment of stay in the chapel, Baladhay was heard shouting and was found dancing vigorously. When people asked him what had happened, Baladhay explained that he found a child on top of him, trying to wake him up. At great astonishment, he shouted as hard as he could just to scare the child away. But he couldn't explain why he was dancing like the movement of the river. Up to this day, the two-steps forward, and the one-step backward dance is still used by the Santo Niño devotees, believing that it was the Santo Niño's choice to have Baladhay dance. However, as what Fr. Roger said in the Mass, the two-steps forward, and the one-step backward seems to be the natural characteristic of the Filipinos, because we never covet for more success in life; thus, we never also improve because as we take two steps forward, we always take another step backward. For me, I think sometimes it is also a good characteristic, kaya nga ang mga Pinoy ay di swapang, di ba? Hehehe….
The Sinulog Festival actually is celebrated for nine days culminating with a grand street parade. Nowadays, many smaller versions of the parade are held in many parts of the province prior to the grand parade. Even in Taiwan, Macau, China, USA, and other parts of the world wherever there are Cebuanos, the Sinulog Festival is celebrated in big or small version. As for our very own Sinulog in St. Joseph, Nanzih, Kaohsiung, you can check ‘em out in the photo gallery. The dancers were really fantastic!
The Sinulog dance was believed to be originated from Baladhay, the adviser of Rajah Humabon. There was a time when Baladhay was severely sick, Rajah Humabon was totally in outmost grief and then he ordered his tribe to bring his adviser into a chapel where the Santo Niño was enthroned. After a moment of stay in the chapel, Baladhay was heard shouting and was found dancing vigorously. When people asked him what had happened, Baladhay explained that he found a child on top of him, trying to wake him up. At great astonishment, he shouted as hard as he could just to scare the child away. But he couldn't explain why he was dancing like the movement of the river. Up to this day, the two-steps forward, and the one-step backward dance is still used by the Santo Niño devotees, believing that it was the Santo Niño's choice to have Baladhay dance. However, as what Fr. Roger said in the Mass, the two-steps forward, and the one-step backward seems to be the natural characteristic of the Filipinos, because we never covet for more success in life; thus, we never also improve because as we take two steps forward, we always take another step backward. For me, I think sometimes it is also a good characteristic, kaya nga ang mga Pinoy ay di swapang, di ba? Hehehe….
The Sinulog Festival actually is celebrated for nine days culminating with a grand street parade. Nowadays, many smaller versions of the parade are held in many parts of the province prior to the grand parade. Even in Taiwan, Macau, China, USA, and other parts of the world wherever there are Cebuanos, the Sinulog Festival is celebrated in big or small version. As for our very own Sinulog in St. Joseph, Nanzih, Kaohsiung, you can check ‘em out in the photo gallery. The dancers were really fantastic!
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