Sinulog is always the most awaited festival in the Philippines. Dating back more than 400 years old, the festivities have shown the best of Cebuano culture and heritage. The Sinulog celebration draw more than 300,000 tourists every year, both pilgrims and spectators. So, here are a few places to visit and events that should not be missed to make the best of your Sinulog experience.
MAAYO Hotel Cebu
168 Plaridel St, Mandaue City, 6014 Cebu
On the 18th of January, MAAYO Hotel Cebu will host ILLUMINATE; neon lights, great music, and an open bar will be the events’ highlights. Illuminate will be at the roofdeck pool bar of the MAAYO hotel. Live bands will be performing all throughout the night. Never miss out on their world-class sangria, a signature concoction that can only be enjoyed from the MAYO Hotel bar.
Cebu Parklane International Hotel
N. Escario St, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu
The hotel is best known for its warmth hospitality, sumptuous culinary collection, and for its love and promotion of the Cebuano culture. The Cebu Parklane International Hotel displays an exquisite collection of Santo Niño images by Madam Josie Pereyra. With some dated back from the 18th century, with over 50 relics and images are displayed at the hotel’s lobby. One of the relics include a century-old Santo Niño from the National Museum.
The hotel also has an exhibition of paintings by Cebu’s renowned artist, Ruel Rosello. While all of his paintings show Cebuano culture, practices, and traditions, the image of the holy child, the Señor Santo Niño, is the central figure in all of the art pieces. The exhibition is until the 31st of January.
Seda Ayala Center Cebu
Cardinal Rosales Ave, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu
The new Seda Hotel at the Ayala Center Cebu exhibits masterpieces of international painter, Mr. Cesar Castillo. The paintings depict the faith and devotion of the Filipinos to the Holy Child Señor Santo Niño. The hotel lobby is also accented with intricately designed Sinulog costumes by Cebu’s most sought after costume designer, Miss Malayka Yamas.
Il Corso Shopping Center
Cebu South Costal Road Properties
Cebu’s newest shopping destination has prepared an explosive event this Friday. The Sky Symphony Musical Fireworks: a grand fireworks competition will happen at the IL CORSO Mall bay area on the 17th of January 2020, at 7:00 in the evening. The grand fireworks competition will have music from Cebu’s best DJ’s and live band performances.
La Plage Pool Club
North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City
The newest lifestyle and pool club in Cebu is hosting the grandest party of the year, Hydro Cebu Music Festival. La Plage’s grand opening will kick off with the music festival on the 17th of January to the 18th of January. This is an event that should not be missed as the best DJ’s in Asia gather for this two-day music and dance party. Music lovers get ready to get wet and wild!
]]>For the past years, I had been spending my Christmases overseas away from family and friends; and worst, away from my mom’s delicious cooking for the Noche Buena. In those three years, I spent my Christmases in the refugee camps in Egypt and in Java, assisting lawyers process the relocation of refugees to Canada, Australia, Germany and France. Although it is delightful to be the bearer of good news on Christmas day, informing them that their relocation has already been processed, it is also heart breaking to tell the other refugees that their applications have been denied and that they must wait for another year in the camps. What a whirlwind experience to celebrate three Christmases!
This year, I am very excited because I shall be celebrating Christmas in my most loved city, Cebu. As early as September, you can see Christmas lights blinking, even from a distance. And, there is something comforting about the rain; most especially when you hear Jose Mari Chan singing in the background. Alas, November came and the spirit of Christmas is much stronger, as you hear Christmas carols almost everywhere, Christmas decorations brighten houses and buildings, Christmas lights lit every corner of the streets, and most of all, you will hear lots of merry-making in pre-Christmas dinners and parties.
On the 12th of November, Christmas has officially started at Cebu’s premier business hotel, Cebu Parklane International Hotel. It was one of the grandest pre-Christmas parties in the city; with the guest of honour, no less than the governor of the province of Cebu, the Hon. Gwendolyn Garcia. What made this event extra special is the theme of the party, which was uniquely Cebuano. The marketing and events offices of the hotel prepared a very entertaining program that showcased Cebuano culture, and presented by Cebu’s most talented artists from the MDF productions. The hotel’s general manager, Madame Cenelyn Manguilimotan, explains that the program is meant to welcome home the balikbayans and remind them, including the locals, on how beautiful the Christmas celebrations are in Cebu. It is also to let the foreign guests experience the best of the cultures of Cebu and what it is like to be celebrating Christmas in the Queen City of the South. For someone who celebrated three Christmases away from home, the pre-Christmas program got me teary-eyed; especially, the re-enactment of the nativity and the heart-touching Christmas carols of the MDF Chorale. Every guest was smiling with the nostalgic presentations and dance performances from the MDF cultural dance company. Even the kind governor stayed throughout the event, amidst her tight schedule. Hence, I had to compliment the Marketing and Communications manager of Cebu Parklane International Hotel, Miss Jaybee Aquino, for hosting one of the best pre-Christmas celebrations ever staged, and she gracefully shared that in Cebu Parklane International Hotel the practice of excellence is a culture; so, the Marketing and Communications office was pressured to put up only the best for their guests and partners.
The pre-Christmas program was highlighted by the lighting of the Christmas tree. Following the hotel’s mission to the environment, their 25-foot Christmas tree was made from old newspapers. The newspapers were dyed in the colours of autumn, and were cut into 15,000 pieces of maple-leaf-shaped ornaments decorated all over the tree. Under the tree are life-sized figures of the nativity made from papier-mâché. The whole lobby of the hotel glimmer in Christmas decorations.
The program concluded with a sumptuous Noche Buena prepared by their Food and Beverage team at the Victoria ballroom. To my surprise, the hotel’s Corporate Executive Chef, June Rhoses Fernandez, partnered with the local municipalities in Cebu, and served all of Cebu’s most exquisite delicacies. It was an adventure for the palate. The buffet table took us all around Cebu; from Carcar’s lechon and chicharon, Asturias’ budbud moron, Argao’s torta, Lilo-an’s rosquillos, to Boljoon’s hamonada. Although I am on a strict diet plan and would only have Sundays as my cheat days, I totally lost myself with what Chef June served. Every food on the table was a must-try, and nothing on the table disappointed me. Every food served was competing to be the best. However, my personal favourite was the chef’s specialty, Ube champorado and Dilis. The champorado is literally translated as ‘chocolate rice’; yet, this champorado was not made with cacao but with purple yam and coconut milk. When I took the first bite of the Ube champorado and Dilis, it took me to a whole new world; and, I almost forgot my name because it was just amazing. This is something only The Parklane can offer, truly an experience not to miss. The Parklane’s heritage and cultural ambassador, Associate Professor Gavin Sanson Bagares, construes that The Parklane does not only provide international standards of excellent hospitality service to its guests, but is also committed to promote Cebuano heritage and culture to the world, making the Filipino products world-class; thus, the authentic Cebuano cuisine can only be experienced at The Parklane.
It was a night that I shall never forget. Cebu Parklane International Hotel did not only remind me on how beautiful it is to celebrate Christmas in Cebu; but it also rekindled my spirit of nationalism, making me proud to be a Filipino, and even prouder to be Cebuano. Maayong Pasko Cebu Parklane International Hotel! Maayong Pasko Cebu!!!
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