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Sinulog Savvy

The weekend isn’t just about the floats, parties and fun-loving crowds—beyond that is a cultural institution that celebrates the province’s acceptance of the Catholic faith and its unwavering devotion to the Santo Niño.

HISTORY

Ferdinand Magellan presented the image of the child Jesus or Santo Niño as a gift to Hara Amihan, the wife of Cebu’s ruler Rajah Humabon, when he landed in Cebu in 1521. It’s said that Hara Amihan was overjoyed at the sight of the Santo Niño and started dancing, paving the way to the conversion of 800 natives to Christianity and the changing of her own name to Queen Juana. After Magellan was killed and Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived more than 40 years later, his men found the Santo Niño in one of the local houses. The devotion to the Santo Niño has steadily grown stronger since then, with the annual Sinulog parade that has gained momentum since it started in 1980.

THE FESTIVITIES

The Sinulog festivities begin with a nine-day novena before its culmination of the grand parade on the third Sunday of January. Before the weekend, it has become tradition for the image of the Santo Niño to be brought to His parents. On Friday, He’s first brought to the St. Joseph Parish in Mandaue, where He spends the night as devotees hold vigil. Come dawn, the image is then brought by boat through the Mactan Channel to visit the Virgen dela Regla or the Virgin of the Rule. By the time the sun is up, a fleet of colorful bots join the Santo Niño in its journey back to Cebu City for the reenactment of the Cebuano’s acceptance of Christianity from the Spanish. At sundown, a solemn procession is held throughout the city’s main roads, where the large crowd can number in millions as they walk with the Santo Niño as it returns to the Basilica. On Sunday, the crowd goes into a more festive mood, with the grand parade of floats and dancers through the city’s main roads. Contingents from around the island and neighboring provinces make their way through the streets and into the Cebu City Sports Complex to show off their choreographed presentations. Outside, revelers celebrate throughout the afternoon, dancing alongside performers while done up in face paint and feathered accessories. The day ends with elaborate fireworks displays throughout the city, while the crowd continues to party well into the night.

LOCALES

When it comes to Sinulog, Cebuanos know what they’re talking about. We round up some friends and ask them: “What advice would you give Sinulog virgins on how to enjoy and survive the weekend?”

MIA ARCENAS (@miaccake)

Put face paint on. That way, people with paint on the street—like my friends— won’t find it tempting to smother your clean face with paint. And live in the moment. Let loose and have fun!

CHERYL PAGES-ALBA (@peonyalba)

Make sure you’re not too drunk that you don’t know where you are the next morning!

MIKEY SANCHEZ (@iammikeysanchez)

Bring ziplock bags to put your gadgets in if you don’t have waterproof casing, and bring money in small denominations. Hydrate(with water!) in between shots, and head to Century Plaza for the best street parties and the friendliest drunk people!

DOYZKIE BUENAVIAJE (@doyzkie)

Hydrate and fuel up on food! You don’t want to run low on energy while enjoying the festivities, which whisks from morning until the next day.

SIAN MAYNARD (@sianemaynard)

Comfy footwear is a must to get through the streets that are blocked off, and a bottle of water to keep you hydrated after an afternoon partying under the sun.

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7 Things You Need To Know Before Watching Balangiga: Howling Wilderness

Following its premiere in October 2017, controversies still creep on “Balangiga: Howling Wilderness”.

This one-of-a-kind film with surreal takes on one of the Philippines’ dark times surely deserves our time. The story is seen through the eyes of a boy that uniquely shows humanity’s cry for help.

Before its screening at your nearest cinema weeks from now, here are seven things you need to know about this morbid film about a portion of our history.

It revolves around the Balangiga Massacre in 1901.

During the American occupation in the Philippines, Company C of the 9^th Infantry Regiment arrived on the south coast of Samar Island, Balangiga in 1901. Their arrival was to cut the contacts of Filipino guerrillas to the people.

According to sources, the Americans confiscated all the weapons of the residents in Balangiga, men were detained and were treated badly. They burned down a church and its bells were taken which are still not returned to date.

Under General Jacob H. Smith’s orders, his officers burned towns and killed all who aged ten and above. For historians and people who lived there, the massacre came after the events of Smith’s orders. Americans practiced scorched earth policy and took food and killed people.

The film revolves around the journey of 8-year-old boy Kulas and his grandfather as they fled the town after Smith’s order to kill everyone over ten years old as revenge for the “rebellion” of the people in Balangiga.

Some scenes were limited especially violence on animals.

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) mentioned that actual scenes of the film were limited.

The sickening scenes of animal slaughter, corpses and deaths will shock or excite us more.

Its tone will keep you interested

Even with gruesome scenes, the dreamy-feels tone with a mood that will continuously haunt you will surely keep you seating on your chair.

The film has minimal dialogues it will also show beautiful shots in the countryside.

It won awards in QCinema International Film Festival 2017

The film won Best Picture during the 2017 QCinema International Film Festival.

Following its back-to-back awards, it also bagged trophies in the 66^th Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) and Urian.

It will be a part of Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018

Because of its numerous awards in different film festivals, “Balangiga” will be part of the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018 as a guest entry under Special Features Section.

Under this section are best picture awardees in different independent festivals from 2017 to be shown as exhibition films.

The director of the film is also a musician

“Balangiga” was one of the masterpieces of director Khavn dela Cruz. Surprisingly, dela Cruz’s composition “Katurog Na” sang by folk-rock artist Lolita Carbon won Best Original Song in 66^th FAMAS.

It was intended to be a historical film for children

According to dela Cruz, the film is an unfinished project.

In his interview with ABS-CBN, he mentioned that he focused on adding and re-shooting the film to make it more accessible to a wider audience, especially for children.

History films show us more. “Balangiga” explained and portrayed more on the horrors of the armed conflict between the American forces and Filipino people.

More importantly, it showed that there is no good outcome from colonialism.

The film will be shown starting on August 15, 2018 in selected cinemas nationwide including Robinsons Galleria.

See you there!

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Butch Carungay’s 50th in Neverland

By Emmanuel Hamoy

Cebu’s glitterati came out in full force for Butch Carungay’s 50th birthday bash at EdenClub. It was a fun-filled night overflowing with Pol Roger, trivia games whilst traipsing the light fantastic.