Sinulog: Expression Of Cebuano Faith And Culture

“Batobalani sa gugma, sa daan tawo palangga… Kanamo malooy ka unta nga kanimo nangilaba”. (Magnet of love which the ancient people loved… Be compassionate to us who venerate You”)

This verse extracted from the “Gozos to the Señor Santo Niño de Cebu” exemplifies the faith and devotion of the Cebuanos to the Holy Child Jesus ever since the dawn of the Spanish colonization in the Philippines over four centuries ago. This lexis which is chanted by devotees during novenas still generates the same goosebumps- a manifestation of strong emotions- that the Cebuano ancestors had when facing Santo Niño in supplication. Nonetheless, the conveyance of this fondness and belief does not stop in verbal prayer; it carries on through a dance.

Historical Background

Sinulog or Sinug is a dance in prayer in honor to the Señor Santo Niño de Cebu. For a long time, Santo Niño was the patron saint of Cebu but now it is the Our Lady of Guadalupe who holds the title since Jesus cannot be a patron saint. Purportedly, the Sinulog has some pagan derivations that were later integrated into the Catholic tradition by the first Filipinos who were baptized for Christendom. These natives were alleged to be worshiping a wooden icon, said to be miraculous, that was being removed from the altar when they were Christian converts already. Sinulog is also assumed to be based on Hara Humamay’s (or Queen Juana, wife of Rajah Humabon) euphoria and excitement upon accepting the original image of Santo Niño from Magellan.

The word Sinulog comes from the Cebuano adverb “sulog” which means “like water current movement,” which illustrates the forward-backward movement of the Sinulog dance. Additionally, this dance steps were believed to originate from Rajah Humabon’s adviser, Baladhay who was allegedly healed moments later when he was brought into a chapel where the Santo Niño was enthroned. Surprisingly, Baladhay was heard shouting, and was found dancing with outmost alertness and ecstasy. Baladhay was asked as to whether why he was awake and shouting. Baladhay explained that he found a small child, pointing to the image of the Santo Niño, who was on top of him, and trying to wake him up. He, at great astonishment, scared the child away by shouting but couldn’t explain why he was dancing the movements of the river. Up to this day, the two-steps forward, and the one-step backward movement dance is still used by the Santo Niño devotees believing that it was the Santo Niño’s choice to have Baladhay dance what the holy child wants them to dance.

Custodians at the Basilica have reported that the Santo Niño sometimes disappeared from its glass case at night only to return with grass stains on its clothes. This sparked speculations that the Santo Niño took long walks at night. There were never any official accounts of these stories and they were often dismissed as local superstitions, but this did not lessen the number of devotees to the Santo Niño.

Fast forward to 1980 when former regional director for the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development David “Boy” Odilao deemed the need to identify Cebu’s rich religious practice, thus he instituted the Sinulog Festival. He is then regarded as the father of Sinulog. Meanwhile, Southwestern University’s former Performing Arts director Melquiades “Mych” Gonzales, Jr., known to be one of the foremost choreographers of Sinulog, employed simple yet very graceful and polished dance steps and props in his direction of the initial Sinulog performances. A certain Estelita “Inday Titang” Diola, an octogenarian and resides in Mabolo, Cebu City, is considered to be the living authentication of the early Sinug drum beat and dance steps and routine. These three important individuals in the history of Sinulog unanimously highlighted that Sinulog is a dance offered to venerate the Holy Infant Jesus.

Sinulog is a ritual dance, thus the ones who perform it is expected to mutter prayers of petition, forgiveness and thanksgiving. In the Basilica, some aged women will offer to do a Sinulog on a person’s behalf. In doing the Sinulog, they clasp candles, and sometimes with a diminutive replica of the Santo Niño and face the church or the area where the Santo Niño is situated. They will be the ones to say, sing, and dance your prayer. Customers shall only pay for the number of candles used in the Sinulog. “Pit Senyor” is the commonest shout-out of the people, and sometimes it becomes a greeting ubiquitously during the fiesta.

Fanfare and Festivity

For the politically-correct person, Sinulog means a cultural event that falls on the same date of the Fiesta Señor which is every third Sunday of January annually. Fiesta Señor, which commences and culminates in the Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño de Cebu is the correct term to denote the religious activity.

The mardi gras or carnival, being compared to the ones in Brazil, is composed of street partying by ordinary folks all over the city’s environs. Cebu-based and contingents from the other provinces executes a Sinulog-based and Free Interpretation presentations. Street dancing is also a prerequisite in the competition, so the main streets in the city are clogged up by performers and revelers as well. Majestic floats which put on display some local and national celebrities including politicians engender much crowd rapture and thrill.

Unquestionably, the Sinulog festival is one of the grandest and most colorful festivals in the Philippines. The festival features some the country’s most vibrant exhibition of music, pomp and pageantry. It is also a time for business and economics to boom. Cebuanos could hardly complete the queue of celebrations from Christmas to New Year to Chinese New Year without the Sinulog. Lately, the cultural affair has been promoted as a tourist attraction- magnetizing international and local tourists. Hence the “magnet” which is referred to the Holy Infant Jesus in the Gozos holds truth also in this aspect.

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The Message

Sinulog is not only a celebration of a feast but it is also a time for thanksgiving. It is the wonderful time of the year when harmony and forgiveness rule in the hearts and minds of every Cebuano and the whole Filipino nation in general. It is when wrecked fences are mended and clenched fists are being opened.

The image of the Señor Santo Niño proclaims this message very obviously: his right hand clutches a cane and gestures a peace sign, while his left hand holds a globe and on its top, a cross.

The Santo Niño is the depiction of Jesus Christ’s childhood, that is why countless miracles are being done by Him instantaneously and without second thought because of his juvenile attitude. A child is kind, gentle, undemanding, sympathetic, trusting and forgiving. These childlike qualities need to be emulated by each and every one of us if we truly worship and adore Him.