Cebu City to Launch Sinulog Festivities on January 6

The Cebu City government is set to launch the Sinulog festivities with a mass on Friday, January 6, an official said.

Ricky Ballesteros, Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) executive director, said the mass will be held at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino, home of the Sto. Nino de Cebu.

Ballesteros said this will be followed with a parade to the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) on Osmena Blvd., Cebu City.

The Sinulog Grand Parade will be held on January 15, Sunday, with a total of 22 dancing contingents, including four out-of-town contingents.

He said the stage at the CCSC where the contingents will perform for final judging is now undergoing construction and is set to be completed before the Sinulog sa Kabataan on Saturday and Sunday.

Earlier, the city government reduced the distance of the Sinulog carousel route from six kilometers to only four kilometers so that the parade will be finished before 5 p.m.

As this developed, Nagiel Banacia, head of the city’s disaster reduction management body, said street parties during the Sinulog will only be allowed 200 meters away from the parade route.

Banacia said this is intended to avoid a repeat of previous Sinulog celebrations where partygoers and revelers crowded the parade route.

Millions of people, both foreign and local, are expected to attend the Sinulog festivities. (PNA)JBP/EB/NOD