Sinulog 2010 gipasalig nga bongga ug alegre

CEBU, Philippines - Gipasigarbo ni Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña nga mas bongga ang grand finale sa umaabot nga Sinulog 2010 karong sunod buwan tungod kay kini gastuhan og P2.5 milyones alang ra sa presentasyon nga salmutan sa 500 ka mga performers.

Lakip sa ginganlan ni Osmeña nga imbitahon sa grand finale mao sila si Pilita Corales, Dulce ug ubang local performers nga nisikat sa laing kanasuran.

Giimbitar usab ang singer nga si Dandin Ranillo nga igsuon ni Mat Ranillo III ug uyuoan sa kontrobersyal nga artistang si Krista Ranillo. Si Dandin mao ang Sugbuanong niawit sa sikat nga ‘Cebu Cebu’ ingon man sa Sinulog theme song nga gamiton matag Sinulog festival.

Gawas sa P2.5 milyones mohatag usab og laing P10 milyones ang city government alang sa premyo sa festival.

Gibutyag sa executive director sa Sinulog nga si Ricky Ballesteros nga moabot sa P25 milyones ang gastuhon pagpahigayon sa Sinulog 2010 ug P11 milyones niini alang sa premyo ug sa uban pang mga special awards.

Sa kasamtangan, duna nay pipila ka mga out-of-town contingents nga mikompirmar nga musalmot sa ika-30 na nga Sinulog Festival sunod buwan.

Miingon si Ballesteros nga pipila niini mao ang Santa Catalina sa Negros Oriental, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, Placer sa Masbate, Tangub City ug Siargao sa Surigao ug daghan pa ang interesadong musalmot lakip na ang mga first timers. Kini sama sa Davao City, Zamboanga City ingon man ang Larena sa lalawigan sa Siquijor ug ang pagbalik og salmot sa contingents sama sa Camiguin nga mipahuway og tulo ka tuig. (BANATNEWS)

Council cites Sinulog group as tourism arm for festival

WITH less than a month away, the Cebu City government cited the Sinulog Foundation Inc. as its principal tourism arm, reaffirming its lead role in organizing programs for the annual event.

The recognition was spelled out in a resolution approved by the City Council in its session yesterday.

The Sinulog foundation Inc. is an accredited non-government organization (NGO) of Cebu City.

The foundation is tasked to handle the Sinulog activities, specifically the grand parade.

Sinulog is a cultural activity that has been institutionalized since 1980 and is one of the most celebrated events in Cebu City as well as in Asia.

The resolution also authorized the foundation to take charge in decorating principal streets and parks in Cebu City with streamers, banners and street arches in preparation for the Sinulog 2010 festival.

Another approved resolution authorized the foundation to organize a Sinulog Street Fair from Dec. 1 to Jan. 31 along Osmeña boulevard in front of Cebu City's Sport Center.

The council said the street fair will add color to the event and provide income for stall owners displaying various Philippine made products from across the country.

Revenues from stalls will also augment the Sinulog foundation's income.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña earlier said he expected a bigger turnout for next year’s Sinulog. Correspondent Fe Marie D. Dumaboc

No politicos allowed during Sinulog

Organizers of the Sinulog celebration next year are making it a point not to involve politicians in the celebration.

Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of the Sinulog Foundation Inc., said many politicians have already expressed interest in participating in the festivities in one form or another, especially to put up streamers along the parade route.

“We don’t want Sinulog to become a venue for politics, especially since election is coming. We will focus on the festival,” Ballesteros told Cebu Daily News.

Also, the foundation would not solicit donations from politicians to help fund the event, although voluntary donations would still be accepted and acknowledged, Ballesteros said.

“They are still welcome to watch the Sinulog, but no speeches,” he added.

In respect to their participation in the Sinulog celebrations in the past years, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu City first lady Margot Osmeña would be allowed to participate in the festivities, although organizers would not openly invite them.

Garcia is seeking reelection in the 2010 elections, while Margot is running for a seat in the City Council.

Garcia has traditionally led one of the contingents from Cebu Province.

Osmeña usually performs in the celebration’s grand finale.

“That’s already the tradition because she is the first lady. She has been dancing for 20 years, and she is the most appropriate personality to portray the role of Queen Juana, being the first lady of Cebu,” Ballesteros said.

Even President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may not get a personal invitation to witness the celebration.

“We usually invite the President, but maybe this time, we won’t send her an invitation,” said the foundation executive director.

Ballesteros said Sinulog 2010 would be “different” from past celebrations, since it would be the festival’s 30th anniversary, having been institutionalized in 1980.

Sinulog 2010 will have the theme “Cebu Then and Now,” revolving around the beginnings of the Sinulog celebration in particular and Cebu in general through prehistoric times, the Spanish occupation, the American occupation, and modern Cebu.

In connection with the theme, Sinulog 2010 would recognize the personalities who started the Sinulog, as well as the first schools to participate in the festivities.

A walk for the Niño

Sinulog is a nine-day fiesta celebration in honor of Sto. Nino. The celebration entails two major activities: the religious procession on a Saturday and the grand street parade the following day.

Organized by the Augustinian order, the solemn procession in Honor of the Child Jesus is basically the same manner as of the other religious processions in the Catholic Church. It begins in the church and ends in the church.

Millions of pilgrims and devotees of Sto. Nino flock the streets going to the Basilica bringing with them candles and
rosaries as they respond to the holy rosary which is spoken in different languages.

Parishioners from different parishes, business sectors, colleges and universities, government officials, archdiocesan organizations and all sectors in the Cebuano community, including group of friends,
families and relatives join together in honoring the patron saint.

The solemn procession route may vary every year to cater to other barangays who were not visited by the Child Jesus the other year and also depending on the estimated number of devotees participating the event.

After the procession a high mass is going to be celebrated.

Immediately after the mass, performing the Sinulog dance is recommended for those who have petitions. Many people believe that their hopes in life are answered by dancing the Sinulog after the solemn procession. A dancer must have his or her own candle for dancing. Dancing with complete strangers, armed with candles in hand and hearts filled with pure love our beloved Sto. Niño, will surely not only please one’s self – but the dear Child Jesus as well.

New CV tourism chief takes over next month

The incoming regional director of the Department of Tourism in Central Visayas (DOT-7) takes over next month, ready to share her knowledge and skills in developing sustainable and responsible tourism communities.

Maria Rica Bueno told CEBU DAILY NEWS on Friday that she would continue the programs of outgoing DOT-7 Regional Director Patria Aurora “Dawnie” Roa.

Bueno heads Team Asia Pacific, which handles the tourism planning and promotions of the DOT.

Bueno will take over the post on Jan. 9, 2010 in time for Cebu's biggest tourism event of the year, the Sinulog Festival.

A 22-year veteran of the department, Bueno started as a junior operations assistant in September 1987 and since then has handled various positions.

With her expertise in destination and development planning, Bueno said she was confident she could further encourage tourism development in the region.

Outgoing DOT-7 Regional Director Roa, who has been in the tourism department for more than three decades, said last Tuesday in the weekly 888 news forum that she was confident in leaving her post to Bueno.

Roa will retire on Jan. 9, 2010 after a three-month extension . Her service was extended due to ongoing preparations for the Sinulog.

Roa’s name has been floated as a possible replacement for tourism undersecretary Phineas Alburo, who retired a few weeks ago.

However, Roa said she was planning to enjoy her retirement and was not entertaining any offers of a government post.

Bueno said she was “very eager to continue the work already initiated by Director Roa as well as excited to embark in this new role as regional director.”

According to Bueno, the region, especially Cebu, has good tourism potential especially as a venue for exhibits, meetings and conventions for both foreign and local organizations due to its white sand beaches.

Bueno also sees great potential in Cebu's diving sector.

“I see more tourists coming here soon once we can develop further the diving spots in the island. I know that many tourists already know of Cebu's diving spots but I'm sure we can improve more in marketing.”

Although she is not from the region, having been born in Cotabato City, Bueno said she was raised in Iloilo City and became familiar with Central Visayas through frequent visits as part of the work in the planning and development division.

Bueno said she would still be going around the region to get more acquainted with the different tourism players.

Famous Cebu talents to highlight Sinulog 2010

CEBU, Philippines - Local talents who made their names known internationally will be invited to perform for the grand finale of Sinulog 2010, this according to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

These local talents include singers Pilita Corales and Dulce, among others, who will render songs with the accompaniment of the Philharmonic Orchestra.

Osmeña will lead the Sinulog festivities next month after he failed to attend the festival last year after being diagnosed with urinary bladder cancer.

He was in the US during the Sinulog celebration for chemotherapy sessions. He eventually underwent a successful operation months later.

Osmeña said that the city will spend P2.5 million for the grand finale alone and another P10 million for the prizes of the grand parade.

“All-Cebuano kuno ilang kuhaon for the grand finale, I said ‘that’s fine’, the city will spend for the production,” Osmeña said.

It was learned that the city government only donated P10 million for the Sinulog festivities last year including the grand finale.

Sinulog executive director Ricky Ballesteros revealed that around 500 performers will entertain the crowd during the grand finale of Sinulog 2010.

Ballesteros said that singer Dandin Ranillo, the brother of Matt Ranillo III and the uncle of Krista Ranillo was also invited to perform.

Dandin is the one who sang the theme song of the Sinulog festival entitled Sinulog isyagit og kusog.

Meanwhile, Ballesteros said a number of out-of-town contingents have already confirmed their participation in the Sinulog 2010 grand parade.

These are Santa Catalina of Negros Oriental, San Carlos City of Negros Occidental, Placer of Masbate and Masbate City, Tangub City and Camiguin, among others.

The Sinulog executive director said that there are also first-timers who confirmed to participate in the coming Sinulog festival, these are Larena in Siquijor, Zamboanga City and Davao City.

Ballesteros is expecting a more colorful and dramatic presentation
from different contingents in next month’s Sinulog festival.

“Kay we encourage the choreographers to innovate, make some research of their concepts and improve their musicality and production,” Ballesteros said.

Ballesteros disclosed that the launching of the Sinulog 2010 activities is scheduled on January 8, a day before the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan will be held.

On January 10, the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan will take place.

The 20 winning contingents of the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan and Lalawigan will automatically be included in the Sinulog 2010 grand parade on January 17.

Ballesteros said that major prizes at stake for the festival will be P500,000 for the champion, P300,000 for the first runner-up and P200,000 for second runner-up, both for the Sinulog-based and free interpretation category. – Elly Bolonos/BRP (FREEMAN NEWS)

Sinulog Trade Fair: Cebu’s Best

In celebration of the Sinulog fiesta, several programs and activities are lined up by the Cebu City Government and the Sinulog Foundation. Apart from the main spectacle which is the Sinulog grand parade, various trade fairs and product displays are organized to add vitality and vibrance to the festivity.

One of these highlights is the Sinulog Tourism and SME Trade Fair 2006 in Plaza Independencia. It aims to further promote the unique products created by Filipinos. Since Cebu is the import and export hub of the country, It will be participated in by micro, small, and medium enterprises from different sectors such as accessories; gifts, toys. and house wares (GTH); home furnishings; food. The Sinulog SME Trade Fair will showcase Cebu’s best quality and reasonably-priced products. It will also be featuring the finest products of the different municipalities all over Cebu Province such as the bisayang manok of Dumanjug; tasty torta of Argao; danggit of Bantayan; the shoes, lechon, and chicharon of Carcar; rosquillos of Liloan; and a lot more.

In coming out with trade fairs such as these, Cebu will not only be known as world-class tourist destination but also a haven of uniquely designed and top of the line products. Tourist, balikbayans, and other regional visitors will witness and be amazed with all the globally competitive products that are both superior in quality and marketability.

As of today, Cebu has been exporting goods internationally such as furniture, garments and coconut oil. Cebu has also topped the fashion industry with internationally acclaimed designers and interior designers who have created beautiful home improvement equipments. Bathroom equipments such as shower head, outdoor shower for the pool and shower cubicles are one of the notable creations. Walk in shower, bathroom counter top and bath shower faucets are also notable bathroom equipments. Sofa, living room chairs and office equipments are some of the most exported furniture. Truly, even the goods alone are enough reason for tourist and travelers to visit Cebu.

Plaza Independencia has been identified to be ideal venue for SME Trade Fair because of it’s accessibility, space capacity, and availability of amenities. It could also help out in dispersing or decongesting the visitors and spectators of the Sinulog celebration who are usually seen in Osmeña Boulevard or at the Fuente Osmeña circle. The Sinulog’s fiesta atmosphere is aptly maintained not only in the uptown areas but also in downtown areas as well.