GRAND SINULOG FESTIVAL 2009

The country’s biggest, grandest and most anticipated festival is set to take center stage once again next year —the Sinulog Festival 2009. Sinulog festival is the country’s biggest pageantry of sights, sounds and colors as it honors and pays homage to the patron saint of Cebu , the child Jesus — Sr. Sto. Niño. Aside from the main spectacle which is the Sinulog Grand parade, there are also other activities lined up by the Cebu City Government and the Sinulog Foundation until the grand highlights of the festival from January 9-18, 2009.

Other highlights for the upcoming Sinulog Festival are Sinulog Photo Exhibits in Mactan Airport, Ayala, SM City and Emal (Jan. 5), Sinulog sa Kabataan—Lalawigan (Jan. 10), Sinulog sa Kabataan—Dakbayan (Jan. 11), Sinulog Festival Queen (Jan. 16), nightly programs like Cultural Shows and Street Party bands at Fuente Osmeña.

Sinulog Foundation assures all foreigners, balikbayans, and locals to anticipate all the activities that Cebu City Government has prepared this year, most especially during the Sinulog Grand Parade on January 18.

“Expect more out-of-town contingents who will be gracing the Sinulog Grand Parade. New concepts from the various contingents and better productions”, said Ricky Ballesteros, Executive Director of Sinulog Foundation.

As of now, there are already 45 contingents from various cities and provinces who confirmed that they will be participating in this Sinulog Grand Parade. Four contingents coming from Leyte (Alikaraw Festival of Hilongos Leyte, Buyugan Festival of Abuyog, Leyte, Sangyaw Festival of Tacloban City and also in Dulag, Leyte), four contingents also from Negros (Pintaflores of San Carlos City, Jimalalud de Sinulog, Sta Catalina, Negros Orienteal and Bais City), three contingents from Mindanao (Cabadbaran City, Tangub City and Lanao Del Norte) are set to showcase their prowess in Sinulog dancing.

For the first time, a contingent from Placer, Masbate in Bicol Region is expected to perform in next year Sinulog Grand Parade.

Beautiful Cebuanas are not robots

“Hi! Please cover the Miss Cebu 2009 media event this noon. Eight candidates will be there.” The text message read as I struggled to get up from bed from a late night. “Sure,” I typed in a quick reply pretending I was disinterested.

What a beautiful way to start off 2009. This job seems to get better and better. During a live radio program held at Kia Gorordo just recently, eight of the 12 candidates in the upcoming Miss Cebu Pageant were present for a simple get-to-know gathering.

Vying for the coveted crown this year are Ana Coritha “Coring” Desamparado, Sheda Lynn Dusaban, Christine “Kit” Tan, Nadia Claire “Carmel” Urbino, Tara Frances Oliver, Ethel Bitoon, Phoebe Kaye Fernandez, Kimberley Therese “Kim” Burden, Michelle Iva “Isa” Eguia, Angela Grace “Eiya” Alinabon, Rizzini Alexis “Rizzi” Gomez and Kris Tiffany Janson.

A question was raised during the table talk about how these ladies would react to people stereotyping beauty pageants as a mere “business enterprise.” Every contestant disagreed.

“It’s not only a beauty pageant. It’s a venue to mold great women,” Tara replies.

“And this is just not for fun. This pageant is a very good platform to promote what you believe in,” Isa says.

Kimberley—who’s a self-confessed first-timer when it comes to pageants and beauty contests—let us in on to a little trivia.

“My mom had a great influence on me. She was a former Bb. Pilipinas candidate and she’s also a cardiologist. She’s proof that beauty and brains is a reality,” she shares.

A fun discussion about self-defense also transpired.

“Anyone of you girls skilled in arnis?” Radio and TV show host, and Sun.Star Cebu entertainment columnist Sam Costanilla joked.

Rizzi relies in the power of possessing “two cans of pepper spray.” And Kris says that “she prays to her guardian angel” everyday and that gives her protection. Isa did give a line though, which the eight seemingly agreed to and they repeated in chorus. “Hit them where it hurts.” These girls can get “scary,” but you half think they are joking.

They were also given the opportunity to share what they think their assets are.

Sheda thinks she’s the “patient and understanding” type and those would be her best traits.

“Sincere and pure.” Only two words came out Phoebe’s lips, but one can still sense conviction and certainty in her reply. But there was a notable line that caught everyone’s fancy though.

“Well,” she pauses and smiles. “I’m just the kind of girl that when I love— I love,” Coring replies and in an instant, you can feel every heart melt like mozzarella in the room and voices going “aww.”

Some of the ladies weren’t able to attend the talk show as they had other matters to look into. Carmel was out of town. Ethel, a CPA and general ledger accountant, had to report to work. The group did visit Sun.Star Cebu days later, but the two still couldn’t make it for various reasons.

The tension leading to the final day is building up. The awaited pageant will be held on Jan. 14, Wednesday night, at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino’s Grand Ballroom.

I guess we’ll have to wait a few more days before we find out who will be crowned Miss Cebu 2009.

Sentro kang Sto. Niño (Sinulog Update)

NABALAKA ang kadagkuan sa Simbahan nga daw nawagtang na ang pagka relihiyuso sa atong pagsaulog sa Sinulog.

Grabe na kuno ang pagka komersyal niini ug nabahiran na sa pulitika.

Ang ato lang mao: ingon man gyud niini ang pista bisan sa mga gagmayng lungsod. Dunay daghang mga kalingawan, mga gagmayng negusyo ug magpapapel sab ang mga pulitiko.

Apan klaro nga ang sentro sa kasaulogan mao ang novena, ang misa, ug ang prosesyon.

Gani, nagkaanam kadaghan ang manambong sa mga kalihokan sa simbahan labi na ang religious procession karong umaabot nga Sabado.

Bisan pa man, angayan lang sab nga pahinumdoman ang mga Sugbuanon nga kining atong kasaulogan karong semanaha nagsentro kang Senyor Sto. Niño.

Gani, ang sentro ug inspirasyon sa giingong grand Sinulog parade nga gipasiugdahan sa Sinulog foundation ug sa Syudad sa Sugbo mao man ang Senyor.

Dugang pa, di nato kalimtan nga kining Sinulog mao kini ang sayaw nga pangaliya kang Senyor Sto, Niño sukad pa kaniadtong panahon sa mga Katsila.

Gipadayon nato kining maong tradisyon ug di na kini mawala pa gikan kanato.