Last Sunday was the 3oth anniversary of the Sinulog Mardi Gras. The Sinulog is an annual festival celebrated by Cebuanos in honor of the child Jesus, the Sto. Niño, whose image was brought in by Magellan during the 16th century as a gift of friendship to Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon. I hope I got my facts right or my history teacher is gonna kill me. LOL.
The morning started with a drizzle so me and the boy intentionally went to the parade route past lunch coz we were too lazy to get our asses off from bed on a rainy and cozy Sunday.tehehe But the Sto. Niño must have heard the collective prayers of the devotees because the sun went up during noon. Sinulog always means that all major roads are closed for the day so we had no choice but to walk under the scorching and need I say BITING heat of the sun. Walking during Sinulog is always fun though because the streets are so alive with drum beats, cheers, and colorful buntings scattered everywhere. We were only half an hour observing the different street dance contingents when it started to drizzle again so we were forced to retreat to the nearest shed which was already jampacked with drenched spectators. Our company annually joins the Sinulog float competition so when the float got near the shed, we decided to join in the parade as delegates.The drizzle turned into a heavy downpour but that never stopped us from dancing and celebrating. I was nursing a cough days before the parade but that day I simply didn't care.
We then proceeded to Ayala mall to witness the grand fireworks display as finale of the day.I have missed the fireworks for three consecutive years already so even if my boyfriend incessantly asked me that we should eat dinner first before we see it, I declined for fear that I might miss it again for the fourth time. So we waited 2 1/2 hours squatting in the strategic area of the parking lot before the fireworks came off at around 10:30 p.m.But oh my, it did not disappoint. The best ever!
By then, we were already too hungry but all restaurants were full so we had to wait another half an hour to be seated. I don't know why were feeling antisocial that night so we capped off the day with a few drinks, just the two of us, and sang along to some freddie mercury and eraserhead songs played by a live band. The street party was still so much alive at 3:30 am when we got home. I awoke at 9:30 am to a throbbing pain in my throat; I missed my work and felt very sick. But I got no regrets because it was one of the best Sinulog of my life ever!
We weren't able to shoot a lot of the street dancers this time around. But to give you an idea of the festivities, I am posting here our shots of the mardi gras last year. tehehe
Hope you enjoy them!
photos below were taken by the boyfriend. :)
The morning started with a drizzle so me and the boy intentionally went to the parade route past lunch coz we were too lazy to get our asses off from bed on a rainy and cozy Sunday.tehehe But the Sto. Niño must have heard the collective prayers of the devotees because the sun went up during noon. Sinulog always means that all major roads are closed for the day so we had no choice but to walk under the scorching and need I say BITING heat of the sun. Walking during Sinulog is always fun though because the streets are so alive with drum beats, cheers, and colorful buntings scattered everywhere. We were only half an hour observing the different street dance contingents when it started to drizzle again so we were forced to retreat to the nearest shed which was already jampacked with drenched spectators. Our company annually joins the Sinulog float competition so when the float got near the shed, we decided to join in the parade as delegates.The drizzle turned into a heavy downpour but that never stopped us from dancing and celebrating. I was nursing a cough days before the parade but that day I simply didn't care.
We then proceeded to Ayala mall to witness the grand fireworks display as finale of the day.I have missed the fireworks for three consecutive years already so even if my boyfriend incessantly asked me that we should eat dinner first before we see it, I declined for fear that I might miss it again for the fourth time. So we waited 2 1/2 hours squatting in the strategic area of the parking lot before the fireworks came off at around 10:30 p.m.But oh my, it did not disappoint. The best ever!
By then, we were already too hungry but all restaurants were full so we had to wait another half an hour to be seated. I don't know why were feeling antisocial that night so we capped off the day with a few drinks, just the two of us, and sang along to some freddie mercury and eraserhead songs played by a live band. The street party was still so much alive at 3:30 am when we got home. I awoke at 9:30 am to a throbbing pain in my throat; I missed my work and felt very sick. But I got no regrets because it was one of the best Sinulog of my life ever!
We weren't able to shoot a lot of the street dancers this time around. But to give you an idea of the festivities, I am posting here our shots of the mardi gras last year. tehehe
Hope you enjoy them!
photos below were taken by the boyfriend. :)
