Pit Senyor!

[JayM]

Today's Sinulog 2021. It's of course very different this year: no dancing or "fluvial" parades, no huge street parties, no floats, no live performances in malls, not much fun. I don't usually attend the big parade (too crowded) but I did in 2010. It was pretty wild. All the dance teams competing with each other regarding costumes and the dancing, lots of drum, bugle and (for some reason) glockenspiel bands playing the traditional songs, and of course the queen and princesses, everyone with their ow little statue of the baby Jesus ("pit senyor".) Huge crowds of people all having a great time. It was a really fun atmosphere. But all they're having this year are the religious ceremonies of course, and the various dancers competing before judges on a stage with no live audiences allowed. This is one of the major celebrations in the entire Philippines with people usually attending from all over the country, but especially the Cebuanos. There are many Youtube videos though, such as this one if anyone wants to see what the dancing and costumes look like. (The video portion was from one of the past parades or a compilation fro several years. Still it gives you the idea.)

For those unfamiliar with the history of the Phils, Ferdinand Magellan arrived in Cebu in 1541 leading a fleet of Spanish ships. At the time Cebu proper was ruled by a Malaysian/Tamil rajah. He and his wife along with some 800 Cebuanos were baptized by the Spanish priests who gave them a wooden cross (which is still on display in downtown Cebu City and is known as Magellan's Cross) and a small wooden effigy representing the baby Jesus. Today marks the anniversary of Christianity coming to the country. Cebu is the oldest city in the Philippines (as well as the second-largest.) The name sinulog refers to the traditional dance step which goes something like two steps forward and one back, along with moving to the music and such.

It seems like most people are celebrating from home this year as I hear my neighbors playing the Sinulog songs (the dance music with the drums etc. plus the official song with lyrics in Bisaya) over and over along with the official song of Cebu (LGT a youtube video with the lyrics so you can sing along) plus another unofficial song, I Love Cebu. Otherwise I wouldn't have even remembered that today was the day. I can feel a kind of party atmosphere in the neighborhood. BTW, "Pit Senyor" is how everyone greets each other during Sinulog, like saying happy new year. I think it literally means "little sir."

[radonrose]

Pit Senyor!

I have the dumbest smile ever at the moment. You could tell the modern version of Sinulog started in the '80s just by listening to these songs. Amazing vibes. Spending most holidays in a city of tens of thousands of people (and living in a village of less than 10,000), I really enjoy those kind of festivals where you could go out and meet someone new. You don't get to do that in a regular Saturday night, even if you don't always hang out in the same places.

I guess there's usually a lot of fireworks in Sinulog, so Joshua is having a better time this year, correct?

Thanks for the history lesson. I wish you and the people of Cebu to have double the fun in Sinulog 2022.

[JayM]

My barangay normally also celebrates Sinulog with a kind of street fair thing and there are usually a few fireworks (and random drunk guys offering me a swig from their Tanduay jugs) but of course not this year. Everyone pretty much stayed at home, played the music, watched the live streams and ate a nice dinner. There were probably a lot of lechon deliveries. (I made a traditional dish, corned beef and cabbage. )