Sinulog: Experienced with Santo Niño

With Santo Niño

I believe that we still have different experiences though we are in the same place. We may have the same goal but we have different ways to attain it. Or we might think of the same thing but we do not agree on the choices. My point is actually sharing with you my strange experiences, thoughts and purposes during the Sinulog Festival. Of course you are entitled to your own. It would be boring if I will write everything so I will only highlight some important events in my journey during the celebration. Please lend your eyes and patience to go through with this without any interest…

During the grand procession the day prior the main event I did not join. The faithful devotees of Sr. Santo Niño may take charge of something against me but that was really what happened. I am also a religious and faithful man but that time is not for me. I gave it to guests and visitors. I knew I will add the very crowded march of devotees. Again, I did not join instead I walked to colon and just observed what the other people are doing. And I see people who were somehow similar what I did. But the important is I there was something in my mind.

Suddenly, it came out to my mind the wonder of the Festival. I said to myself, “Like this situation we need something to let the people came together in one place and do something more than this”. Imagine very far places that these people came from, let the people sacrificing, walking because jeepneys and other vehicles are no longer allowed to enter, maintaining security, spending time all night in Mango Avenue, Fuente Osmeña, Sogo, etc., quite costly because people, media, government, agencies, and institutions were integrated and concentrated in one place and a particular event. These things were made possible because of one thing, Sinulog Festival. One beat, one dance and one vision as according to the mighty theme.

The Sinulog Festival is really great. I think the idea behind this can also be used for another. I mean, it did integrating the people, media, schools etc. , we can also do it for another reason, right? Well, it may take long to do because Sinulog is a tradition, a long practice. It is based on norms. But the thing is we could copy the spirit of this practice and put it on another way. And that is the subject of my another blog.

My experienced with Santo Niño was really momentous. I was able to think another possibilities to let the people again unite and integrated. You! How did you go with Santo Niño during the Sinulog Celebration?