It’s the most colorful time of the year in Cebu City with the annual Sinulog Festival.
The annual festival celebrates the Señor Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus), which was brought to Cebu, Philippines, by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. It was first in Cebu where he presented the image and baptized local Cebu king Rajah Humabon and his Queen Humamay.
Magellan was later killed by Lapu-Lapu, a chief and rival of Humabon, who refused to convert to Christianity.
According to legend, the Sinulog dance steps are believed to have originated from Rajah Humabon’s adviser Baladhay.
Baladhay fell sick and Humabon ordered his men to bring Baladhay into a room where the Santo Niño was.
A few days passed and Baladhay was found shouting and dancing with, what folklorists say, was the “utmost alertness.”
When Baladhay was asked why he was awake and shouting, he pointed to the image of the Santo Niño, earlier brought by Magellan. He explained that he saw the small child trying to wake him by tickling him. Baladhay then danced with the child, with what then became known as the “sinu’g dance.”
The dance mimicked the movement of the river, with one step forward and two steps back.
Devotees of the Santo Niño today continue to dance the Sinu’g as a way to pay tribute to the child Jesus.
The modern festival known as Sinulog was first organized in 1981, where dance tribes participate in a competition with colorful costumes, music and various dance routines.
The festival attracts an average of 1 to 2 million people from all over the country annually.
If you’re not in Cebu to watch the festival in person, you can follow the events via this livestream.
Watch it below:
