Eve of Sinulog

OK, I was planning all week to go and investigate and research as much as I can about pre- Sinulog events or activities. I was quite successful at first as what you have seen on my previous posts. Yesterday I was planning to go to Fuente (Bands & Activities), Ayala Center (Cultural Activities), SM (also Cultural Activities), and to Parklane Hotel (Bamboo – Famous Pinoy Band was playing) since they have some interesting activities there, but I was not able to go because it was raining and I was not well prepared.

So today I was also planning to go mall hopping today to see any interesting activities that each mall have prepared for the celebration of Sinulog. But it rained again, I would have gone to see the procession at the Basilica del Santo Niño but instead I became lazy and went to E-Mall and ended up watching the movie I AM LEGEN Starring Will Smith (I’ll make a Review on this next week).

The Sinulog Procession takes place on the eve of Sinulog. Before the streets fill up for the parade on Sunday, they become a path for the devotees on Saturday. This is the route where people - Cebuanos and non-Cebuanos alike – pay tribute, give thanks and offer petitions to the Child Jesus, or Santo Niño. On January 20, Saturday, starting at 1:30 p.m., devotees will gather in the Basilica del SantoNiño and pray the rosary as they walk in solemn procession before the image ofthe Holy Child. This will end at 6:00 in the same place where it began. This is symbolic of the very essence of Sinulog - that everything that God has given us can only be offered to Him in return.

After that, I was already feeling drowsy and hungry and decided to eat at Dimsum Break. Part of the plan was to go to National Bookstore to buy some specialty paper, I’ll be using it next week for certificates (I was one of the Organizers for the “Appreciation of Six Sigma Seminar” last Wednesday –I’ll get to this after the sinulog feature). I was given a budgeted cash for me to spend and to my surprise it exceeded our calculated price. I looked up the receipt and I saw why, it was due to a 12% VAT (Value Added Tax), I’ll definitely rant about this next week.

Then I went to the Fuente Rotunda to see what’s there and decided it to be my last stop because I could feel my body would not make it in Ayala and SM (Also I need to rest since I’ll be going to the Sinulog Grand Parade the next day). So there were food stalls there, lots of couples, and a band playing reggae at the stage. To be honest, if my memory and my math is right, I think it was my 3^rd or 4^th time to be inside the Fuente Rotunda. Also I would have loved to see Parokya ni Edgar playing at the Parklane Hotel Parking Lot but maybe next time or perhaps I need to invite more blogging buddies to help me in the future.

I guess that is it for now, need to sleep early and rest as much as I can for tomorrow’s celebration rain or shine!