Cebu City begins planning for Sinulog 2021

The Cebu City government has officially begun planning for the 2021 Sinulog festival that will run from January 8 to January 17 this year.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and other public officials of the city government has already conducted a walkthrough around possible route for the motorcade planned for Señor Santo Niño instead of the traditional procession held every evening of the celebration.

Councilor Philip Zafra, chairperson of the city council’s Committee on Public Order, plans to propose a virtual grand parade for the Sinulog Festival instead of the usual Mardi Gras. The participants could perform through live streaming omitting the necessity for the participants to travel to the city.

The Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu is also planning to air the novena masses live to parishes in the Archdiocese of Cebu so that devotees will not have to go to the Basilica. It will still be open but the roads near it are planned to be closed down as early as December 16, 2020, also the start of the Misa de Gallo.

Furthermore, there will be no fluvial procession this year to prevent crowding.

Words by Donna Bunao

Photo by Bryan G. Fernandez II