Origin of Sinulog
Sinulog is a dance ritual in honor of the miraculous image of the Santo Nino. The dance moves to the sound of the drums and this resembles the current (Sinulog) of what was then known as Cebu's Pahina River. Thus, in Cebuano, they say it's Sinulog.
More than just the meaning of the word is the significance of the dance. Historians now say that Sinulog, which is of pagan origin, is the link between the country's pagan past and its Christian present. Let's trace its history.
Historical accounts say that before Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan came to Cebu on April 7, 1521 to plant the cross on its shore and claim the country for the King of Spain, Sinulog was already danced by the natives in honor of their wooden idols and anitos. Then Magellan came and introduced Christianity. He gave the Santo Nino (image of the Child Jesus) as baptismal gift to Hara Amihan, wife of Cebu's Rajah Humabon who was later named Queen Juana. At that time, not only the rulers were baptized but also about 800 of their subjects. Unfortunately, however, shortly after the conversion, Magellan went into a reckless adventure by fighting the reigning ruler of Mactan, Rajah Lapulapu, with only a handful of men. He died in the encounter. That was on April 27, 1521.
The remnants of Magellan's men were however able to return to Spain to report the incident and the possibility of conquest. It took 44 years before a new group came and started the formal Christianization of the islands. Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrived in Cebu on April 28, 1565. His ships bombarded the village and in one of the burning huts, one of his soldiers named Juan Camus found inside a wooden box the image of the Santo Nino lying side by side with native idols.
SINULOG 2015 Schedule of Activities
| December 01 – January 31, 2015 | Sinulog Street Fair, Osmeña Blvd. |
| December 27, 2014 – January 24, 2015 | Sinulog 2014 Winning Photos Exhibit @ SM City Cebu |
| December 30, 2014 (Tue) | Sinulog 2015 Fun Run |
| 5:00 A.M. | Elimination Sinulog 2015 Dance Crew |
| January 8, 2015 (Thu) | Opening Salvo: Walk with Jesus |
| 4:00 A.M. | Assembly Time (Area) Fuente Osmeña |
| 4:30 A.M. | Start of Walk-Fuente Osmeña Blvd. – Basilica del Sto. Niño |
| 5:30 A.M. | Installation of Hermano & Hermana Mayores 2015 |
| January 9, 2015 (Fri) | Sinulog 2015 Kick Off |
| 10:00 A.M. | Sinulog Trade Fair @ SM City Cebu by Department of Trade and Industry |
| 2:00 P.M. | Solemn Mass (Basilica del Santo Niño) |
| 3:00 P.M. | Launching Parade (Basilica del Santo Niño to CCSC) |
| 7:00 P.M. | Opening and Launching Program, Fuente Osmeña |
| 8:00 P.M. | Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle) |
| 9:00 P.M. | Street Party Bands |
| January 10, 2015 (Sat) | Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan |
| 1:00 P.M. | Parade of Participants, Capitol Site to Cebu City Sports Center |
| 2:00 P.M. | Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan @ Cebu City Sports Center |
| 6:30 P.M. | Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) |
| January 11, 2015 (Sun) | Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan |
| 4:00 A.M. | Cebu City 2015 Marathon – www.cebumarathon.com |
| 1:00 P.M. | Parade of Participants, Plaza Independencia to Cebu City Sports Center |
| 2:00 P.M. | Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan @ Cebu City Sports Center |
| 6:00 P.M. | Grand Finals of Sinulog Choral Competition |
| 6:30 P.M. | Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) |
| 8:00 P.M. | Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña) |
| 9:00 P.M. | Concert @ the Fuente Osmeña, Street Party Bands |
| January 12, 2015 (Mon) | |
| 6:30 P.M. | Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) |
| 8:00 P.M. | Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña) |
| 9:00 P.M. | Concert @ the Fuente Osmeña, Street Party Bands |
| January 13, 2015 (Tue) | |
| 6:30 P.M. | Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) |
| 8:00 P.M. | Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña) |
| 9:00 P.M. | Concert @ the Fuente Osmeña, Street Party Bands |
| January 14, 2015 (Wed) | |
| 9:00 A.M. | Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights) |
| 6:30 P.M. | Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) |
| 7:00 P.M. | Ms. Cebu 2015 Coronation Night |
| January 15, 2015 (Thu) | Sinulog 2015 Idol Grand Finals |
| Sinulog Festival Queen Runway Competition and Photo shoot | |
| January 16, 2015 (Fri) | Visual Merchandising Contest (Dept. Stores and Malls) |
| 4:00 A.M. | Sinulog 2015 Dance Crew Finals |
| Sinulog Festival Queen 2015 Coronation Night @ Cebu City Sports Center | |
| January 17, 2015 (Sat) | Visual Merchandising Contest (Dept. Stores and Malls) |
| 6:00 A.M. | Fluvial Procession of the Miraculous Image of the Sto. Niño |
| 9:00 A.M. | Re-enactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon Basilica del Santo Niño |
| 2:00 P.M. | Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño |
| 7:00 P.M. | Sinulog Fireworks Competition @ SM City Cebu |
| 7:00 P.M. | Street Party @ Fuente Osmeña |
| January 18, 2015 (Sun) | Sinulog Grand Parade |
| 4:00 A.M. | Mañanita Mass @ Basilica del Sto. Niño |
| 6:00 A.M. | Pontifical Mass with His Eminence Jose S. Palma @ Basilica del Sto. Nino |
| 8:00 A.M. | Holy Mass @ Cebu City Sports Center |
| 9:00 A.M. | Sinulog Grand Parade Carousel Kick Off |
| 7:00 P.M. | Grand Finale and Grand Fireworks @ Cebu City Sports Center |
| 7:30 P.M. | Street Party Bands, Fuente Osmeña |
| 9:00 P.M. | Pyrospectacular Show (Pyromusical Show @ SM City Cebu) |
| 5:00 P.M. - 2:00 A.M. | Concert Series sa Sugbo @ SRP Grounds |
| 12:00 MN | Sinulog Fireworks @SRP |
| January 19, 2015 (Mon) | Awarding Ceremonies @ Cebu City Sports Center |
| January 23, 2015 (Friday) | HUBO |
| January 24, 2015 (Sat) | Judging of Finalists Short Film/Video Documentary Contest |
| Sinulog 2014 Photo Contest Winners Exhibit | |
| January 31, 2015 (Sat) | |
| 1:00 P.M. | Judging of Finalists Sinulog Short Film Festival @ SM City Cebu |
| 6:00 P.M. | Awarding Ceremonies Photo Contest, Short Film and Video Documentary Contest @ SM City Cebu |
| January 31, 2015 – February 8, 2015 | Photo Exhibit Winning Photos Sinulog 2014 @ SM City Cebu |