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Sinulog is celebrated annually on the 3rd Sunday of the first month, January 15 this year. It signifies the acceptance of Christianity by the local inhabitants of Cebu. Here’s a simple guide for the Sinulog 2023 festivities, including events and schedule of activities!

What is Sinulog Festival: A Short Summary Of How Sinulog Came To Be

History reveals that Cebuanos conducted dances resembling the Sinulog to celebrate animist idols long before Christianity was introduced to the archipelago. The religion was first introduced in Cebu by Ferdinand Magellan’s arrival, who led a Spanish expedition on April 7, 1521.

The Cebuano word “sulog” is where the festival’s name of “Sinulog” originated. Sulog means water current, and Sinulog roughly translates to “like water current,” which describes the forward-backward moves of the dance, imitating river flow.

Nowadays, Sinulog is celebrated in festive outfits while performing the ritual-prayer dance to honor Señor Santo Niño or the Child Jesus. In addition to the festival’s religious aspect, there are music fests, pageants, night markets, and many more!

Sinulog 2023 Official Schedule of Activities

Check out the official post by Sinulog Foundation Inc. below:

Sinulog 2023 Events And Activities

Novena Mass Schedules and Religious Events

A novena is a term used to describe a spiritual practice that entails reciting a specific set of prayers nine days in a row to ask God for blessings for an event, which is the Sinulog Festival in this case.

 A Novena for the Sinulog Festival will be held at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu, which houses the oldest Christian relic in the Philippines, the Santo Niño de Cebú. Santo Niño de Cebú was a gift from the Spanish Colonizers to the Native Filipinos, marking Christianity’s start in Asia.

SCHEDULE FOR CEBU SINULOG NOVENA MASS 2023

1st Day: JANUARY 5, 2023 (THURSDAY) – OPENING SALVO

• 3:30 AM – Assembly Time at Fuente Osmena (Route: Osmeña Blvd. to Basilica)
• 4:00 AM – Penitential Walk with Jesus
• 5:00 AM – Solemn Mass for the Opening Salvo (Cebuano)
• 5:00 AM – Installation of Hermano Mayor and Hermana Mayores 2020
• 7:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 8:30 AM – Holy Mass (English)
• 10:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 11:30 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 1:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
• 2:30 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 4:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 5:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
• 7:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)

2nd Day: JANUARY 6, 2023 (FRIDAY) – 2ND NOVENA

• 4:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 5:30 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 7:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 8:30 AM – Holy Mass (English)
• 10:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 11:30 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 1:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
• 2:30 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 2:30 PM – Opening Slavo of Sinulog Festival
• 4:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 5:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
• 7:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)

DAY 3-8: JANUARY 7 (SATURDAY) TO JANUARY 12 (THURSDAY) – NOVENA MASS

• 4:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 5:30 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 7:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 8:30 AM – Holy Mass (English)
• 10:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 11:30 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 1:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
• 2:30 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 4:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 5:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
• 7:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)

DAY 9: JANUARY 13, 2023 (FRIDAY)

• 3:00 AM – Procession from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church to Fuente Circle

(Route: Our Lady of Guadalupe Church – V Rama Ave. – left to B Rodriguez St. – Fuente Circle)

• 3:30 AM – Assembly at Fuente Osmena
• 4:00 AM – Penitential Walk with Mary (Route: Osmena Blvd. to Basilica
• 5:30 AM – Misa de Traslacion Mass (Cebuano)

TRASLACION – CEBU CITY TO MANDAUE CITY

(Route: Basilica – Osmena Blvd – MJ Cuenco Avenue – (Central Nautical Highway) Lopez Jaena St. – A. Del Rosario St – S.B. Cabahug St. – National Shrine of St. Joseph)

• 7:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 8:30 AM – Holy Mass (English)
• 10:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 11:30 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 1:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
• 2:30 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 4:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 5:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
• 7:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)

DAY 10: JANUARY 14, 2023 (SATURDAY) – VISPERAS DAY

MASSES AT THE BASILICA

• 5:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 6:30 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 8:00 AM – Holy Mass (English)
• 9:30 AM – Holy Mass (English)
• 11:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 12:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
• 2:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 3:30 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)

VISPERAS

• 5:00 PM – Solemn Visperas Mass (Cebuano) Traditional Religious Sinulog
• 6:30 PM – Grand Mobile Procession (Cebuano)

DAY 11: JANUARY 15, 2023 (SUNDAY) – FIESTA SENOR DAY

• 5:00 AM – Mañanita Mass (Cebuano)
• 6:30 AM – Misa Pontifical de la “Fiesta Señor”
• 8:00 AM – Holy Mass (English)
• 9:30 AM – Holy Mass (English)
• 11:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 12:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
• 2:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 3:30 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 5:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
• 6:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)

Note: All Masses of the Fiesta Señor will be concluded with the Traditional Sinulog Dance

DAY 12: JANUARY 16, 2023 (MONDAY) – THANKSGIVING DAY

• 6:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 7:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 8:30 AM – Holy Mass (English)
• 10:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 12:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
• 2:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 4:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 5:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
• 7:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)

DAY 13: JANUARY 20, 2023 (FRIDAY) – ADLAW SA HUBO

• 4:00 AM – Misa Solemne sa “HUBO” (Venue: Santo Niño Pilgrim Center)
• 6:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 7:00 AM – Holy Mass (English)
• 8:00 AM – Holy Mass (English)
• 9:00 AM – Holy Mass (English)
• 10:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 11:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 12:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
• 1:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 2:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 3:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 4:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
• 5:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
• 6:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
• 7:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)

For more in-depth information, such as the presiding priest and mass sponsors, click here!

Kalingawan Sa Plaza

The “Kalingawan Sa Plaza” roughly translates to “Plaza Fair,” where different stalls will line up on the plazas that host different events. This year, these plazas are the Fuentes Osmeña Circle and Plaza Independencia. These fairs will start from January 6 until January 15, the night of the festival.

The events to be held are the Sinulog Idol 2023, Sinulog Festival Queen Pageant, various cultural shows, variety shows and live music!

Sinulog Idol 2023

Filipinos love singing so much that almost every fiesta has to have a singing competition! Sinulog Idol is a singing competition held every night at Fuentes Osmeña Circle starting from January 6 up to the 11th. The Finals Night will be held on January 15, along with the conclusion of other events and a grand fireworks display.

Sinulog Sa Kabataan

This event is for the youth to enjoy and partake in the festivities. They will hold separate street dances where they compete against one another. Most of the participants will originate from different schools. However, there are also instances where youth groups and organizations also join, 

The event will be held on January 8, where they will parade the streets. Each group will have a queen carrying the Santo Niño and conduct their final dance at the Cebu City Sports Center. 

Sinulog Festival Queen Pageant

Since Sinulog celebrates the acceptance of Christianity by the native Filipinos, it’s only natural to have the queen, who the Spaniards gifted the Santo Niño, participate in the ceremonial street dance!

The festival Queens will dress fabulously and compete with their group in the street dancing ritual on January 7 at Nustar: Resort and Casino. Afterwards, the runway competition, reminiscent of your usual pageant, will be held on January 9, where they will show off their exotic dresses at SM seaside. 

Sinulog The Reenactment

On the festival’s eve, a fluvial parade will be conducted where a reenactment of when the Spaniards arrived will be held. In addition, a flotilla of boats with colorful decorations will fill the banks of Cebu while carrying the Santo Niño from Lapu-Lapu to the piers of Cebu City.

Once the image of Santo Niño arrives at the basilica, another reenactment will be carried out where it showed when Queen Juana and her husband Rajak Humabon were baptized as Christians, making them the first Christians in the country.

Sinulog Music Festivals

This year, there are 4 music festivals added to the festivities! These are the Verve Sinulog Festival, the Sinulog Music Festival, the Careless Music Festival, and the Plus63 Music Festival! These music festivals will happen during the Sinulog festivities, and the following will be their schedules.

• Verve Sinulog Festival – January 7, 3:00 PM to 3:00 AM at SM Seaside Complex
• Sinulog Music Festival – January 13 to 15, Dusk till Dawn at the SRP Grounds
• Careless Music Festival – January 13 and 14, North Reclamation Area
• Plus63 Music Festival – February 18 SM Seaside Complex

Learn more about these music festivals here!

SINULOG 2023

On January 15, the festival proper will be held and will start with two masses, the Mañanita Mass and the Pontificial Mass. These masses will be held at the Minor Basilica of Santo Niño de Cebu from 4 am. After the two masses at the basilica, another mass will be held at the South Road Properties at 8 am to signify the start of festivities.

Once the opening is done, a Grand Parade will be held from 9 am until sunset, where devotees will dance and celebrate while riding the people’s current. Then, the Grand Finale of all the previous events will be held with a fireworks display afterwards.

If you’re not tired, a street party after all those events will surely make your body sore the next day! Not a dancer and would prefer listening to performers? A music festival is also happening a few blocks away!

Tips To Enjoy The Festival

• NEVER forget your Covid-19 essentials. (sanitizers, extra face masks, etc.)
• GOING TO festivals without carrying extra money won’t be so much fun,
• GIVE yourself enough sleep to avoid exhausting yourself.
• ALWAYS bring a liter of water to avoid dehydration and heatstrokes.
• UPDATE your friends and family on your plans to lessen their worries.
• NEVER forget to bring umbrellas to protect you from rain or shine.
• GOING TO the parades? Bring two face towels to keep yourself dry from sweat.
• LETTING the authorities do their job will make the festival more enjoyable
• BRING ointments (white flower, Efficascent) to alleviate dizziness.
• DOWN some mints to freshen your breath. 

The Sinulog 2023 is a full comeback of the festivities filled with in-person events. So, make sure to enjoy this time as it will surely be one of the best Sinulog of all time! –WhatALife!/Vaughn

Sources: (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6)

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Also read: SINULOG 2023: 458th Fiesta Señor schedule of activities announced