Rains fail to dampen Sinulog festival

Rain fell but spirits remained high from the early morning Pontifical Mass that kicked off the celebration of the Sinulog Festival to the grand mardi gras that spilled into the streets of this city in honor of the Sto. Niño Sunday.

President Benigno S. Aquino III joined the revelry and offered prayers to the revered Sto. Niño to protect the country from disasters and other challenges in the future.

The President also urged the public to pray for and help thousands of families affected by recent floods in some areas in Visayas and Mindanao during his attendance at the annual festival.

“Let us pray for our countrymen in the Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao regions who are coping with calamity.

May Senyor Santo Niño protect our country from disasters and other challenges that will come our way, as we build our dreams together and realize a better life for all. Senyor Santo Ninyo, Ampingi kaming tanan,” the President said during the opening of the Sinulog Grand Parade at the Cebu City Sports Complex.

“As we say our prayers, it is my fervent hope that the united community effort that has made the Sinulog festival successful for three decades will also be displayed as we extend our helping hands to those affected by the recent flashfloods,” he added.

Thousands of devotees attended the mass celebrated by newly installed Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.

The 60-year-old bishop was joined by His eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal and other high-ranking members of the clergy who endured the heavy rain.

Later at around 8 a.m., Palma also celebrated the mass attended by the President at the Cebu City Sports Complex.

In both of his homilies, Palma lauded the people’s strong devotion to the child image of Jesus stressing that the rain didn’t stop pilgrims from attending the mass in the Basilica.

It can be recalled that on Saturday, participants in the barefoot procession were also drenched in rain and had to wade through flooded portions of the Sto. Niño float’s s route.

“Praise the Lord as we are all here to join the mass despite the heavy rain,” said Palma.

A total of 151 contingents in several categories joined the performance contests in this year’s celebration.

During his visit in Cebu, Aquino said he was happy to attend the Sinulog festival which he claimed was “always a joy to celebrate, as it gives us an occasion to take great pride in this unique component of our country’s culture.”

“This festival, as we are all proud to note, is also distinctly Cebuano. And it gives me pleasure, as always, to visit your island province,” he said.

But the President reminded the people that Sinulog festival was not all about the merriment but a celebration of Filipino values and beliefs.

“Along with that legacy came other values that have stood the test of time, which are important as we seize the momentum of reform, and rebuild our country. We are all still Filipinos—bound by our culture, by the sacrifices of our forefathers, and the collective aspiration to live up to their example,” he said.

“We celebrate together because we look back as one, and as one, we also dream. We embark on this collective journey to achieve our dreams guided by the very spirit of our faith: That we are stewards of our nation, and we are tasked to be our brother’s keeper,” he said.

By PHOEBE JEN INDINO and GENALYN D. KABILING