SINULOG 2011: The Many Faces of the Holy Child

Various images of the Most Holy Child Jesus or the Sto. Nino are now on display at the Ayala Center Cebu in line with mall's celebration of the Sinulog Festival 2011. 

The exhibition of the Sto. Nino icons is an annual event organized by Ayala Center in cooperation with the various owners of the statues, one of whom is Msgr. Chris Garcia, who also led the blessing and opening of the exhibition on January 7, 2011.  

About 20 different replicas are shown today, but according to the organizers, there are others coming, and the public will be able to see a total of 60 statues.  Most of these icons are already family heirlooms of devotees who generously lent their images for such exhibit.

Apart from the exhibit, the Sinulog fever is very much felt at the Ayala Center: the Christmas decors were immediately replaced with the colorful Sinulog banners and ornaments; shops redesigned their windows to fit for the festivities, and, of course, discounts as high as 50% are the order of the sale day -- all in the name of the Sinulog fiesta. 

//rmism//

Viva Pit Señor 2011

Sinulog comes from the vernacular term, "sulog",
referring to the current of the water that moves
forward and backward, hence the Sinulog dance style 

Sinulog 2011 officially kicks off today with a solemn mass held at the erstwhile home of the Holy Child Jesus in the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in downtown Cebu City. 

The mass was followed by a parade to the Cebu City Sports Center and a formal opening and launching program at Fuente Osmeña, which featured the Mandaue City Children's Choir, Cebu's dancesports troupes, and the presentation of the Ms. Cebu 2011, among others.

Preceding Sinulog's official launch was an opening salvo termed as 'Walk with Jesus' held on January 6, 2011. Approximately 20,000 devotees were reported to have attended the procession at 4:00 in the morning that started from Fuente Osmeña en route to the Basilica for the dawn mass and installation of this year's Hermano & Hermana Mayores.

The set of activities had long been geared to its place covering from December 1, with the Sinulog Street Fair, up to January 21, 2011, with the "Hubo Mass" Ritual. 

In this rite, the Sto. Niño is removed of his prince-like vestments and made to wear ordinary clothes.  Priests explain that this symbolic tradition tells people that only when one becomes like a little child can he enter the gates of heaven.   

Highlights of this year's festival include:

January 8     - Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan Dance Competition

                     Venue: Cebu City Sports Center

January 9     - Sinulog sa Kabataan- Dakbayan

January 12   - Ms. Cebu 2011 Coronation Night, Waterfront Lahug Hotel

January 15   - Fluvial Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño

January 16   - Sinulog Grand Parade 

The most expensive tickets for the Grand Parade pegged at P600 ($14.00) had been wiped out sold, according to the festival's organizers. Those who have not bought their tickets yet, P500 ($12.00) and P400 ($10.00) worth are still available.  Spectators are advised to bring rain protectors in going to any Sinulog event because of rainy weather predictions for the days ahead, and not to bring any firearm as there is a special gun ban effected solely for the duration of the occasion.

Scroll down for the complete Schedule of Sinulog 2011. Viva Pit Señor!

Dec 01 – Jan 31, 2011	Sinulog Street Fair, Osmeña Blvd.
December 11, 2010	Sinulog Poster Making Contest @ Emall
December 15, 2010	Sinulog Photo Exhibits @SM City
January 2-30, 2011	1st Sinulog Softball Cup
Janaury 2, 2011 (Sunday)	Sinulog Fun Run Sinulog Musicfest (Band Competition) Presentation of contestants and announcement of 6 finalists Sinulog Best Dance Crew announcement and presentation of 6 finalists
January 06, 2011 (Thursday)	Opening Salvo: Walk with Jesus
4:00 AM	Assembly Time (Area) Fuente Osmeña
4:30 AM	Start of Walk-Fuente Osmeña Blvd. – Basilica del Sto. Niño
5:30 AM	Installation of Hermano & Hermana Mayores 2011
January 07, 2011 (Friday)	Sinulog 2011 Kick Off
	Sinulog Photo Exhibits through the years @SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu, MCIAA
2:00PM	Solemn Mass (Basilica del Sto. Niño)
3:00 PM	Launching Parade (Basilica del Sto. Niño to Cebu City Sports Center)
7:00 PM	Opening and Launching Program, Fuente Osmeña featuring Mandaue City Children’s Choir, Dancesports Team Cebu and Dance Troupes from Cebu’s schools and universities
7:30 PM	Ms. Cebu 2011 Presentation, Fuente Osmeña
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Streen Party Bands
January 8, 2011 (Saturday)	Sinulog sa Kabataan – Lalawigan
8:00 AM	1st Sinulog Football Cup at the USC Talamban Football Field
1:00 PM	Parade of Participants, Capitol Site to Cebu City Sports Center
2:00 PM	Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, Cebu City Sports Center
4:30 PM	Awarding of Winners
6:30 PM	Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) DepEd, Cebu Province
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:30 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 9, 2011 (Sunday)	Sinulog sa Kabataan- Dakbayan
4:00 AM	Cebu City 2011 Marathon – www.cebumarathon.com
8:00 AM	1st Sinulog Football Cup at the USC Talamban Football Field
1:00 PM	Parade of Participants, Plaza Independencia to Cebu City Sports Center
2:00 PM	Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan, Cebu City Sports Center
4:30 PM	Awarding of Winners
6:30 PM	Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) University of San Carlos
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O, Street Party Bands
January 10, 2011 (Monday)
6:30 PM	Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) University of Cebu
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 11, 2011 (Tuesday)
6:30 PM	Cultural show (Fuente Osmeña) University of San Jose-Recoletos and Cebu Institute of Technology
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 12, 2011 (Wednesday)
9:00 AM	Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
6:30 PM	Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) University of Southern Philippines-Foundation and Salazar College of Science and Institute of Technology
7:00 PM	Ms. Cebu 2011 Coronation Night, Waterfront Lahug Hotel
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 13, 2011 (Thursday)
9:00 AM	Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
10 AM – 3:00 PM	Photo Shoot Sinulog Festival Queen , SM City Entertainment Plaza
7:00 PM	Sinulog Festival Queen Parade of Costumes @ SM Northwing Lobby
6:30 PM	Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) Cebu City Division
6:00 PM	Balik Cebu, Welcome Party @ Ayala Center Cebu
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
8:00 PM	Handumanan @ Ayala Terraces
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 14, 2011 (Friday)	Visual Merchandising Contest (Dept. Stores and Malls)
4:00 AM	Walk with Mary (Area) Fuente Osmeña-Sto. Niño
7:00 AM	Misa de Translacion (Motorcade)
9:00 AM	Solidarity Meeting (All Competing Contingent / Floats / Higante / Puppteers) @ Cebu City Sports Center Gym
6:30 PM	Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) University of San Carlos
7:30 P.M	Cebu Popular Music Festival, Cebu Coliseum
7:30 P.M	Sinulog Festival Queen 2011, Cebu City Sports Center
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 15, 2011 (Saturday)
6:00 AM	Fluvial Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño
8:00 AM	Vibration and Big Bike Rally by Vmax Owners Group
9:00 AM	Re-enactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon Basilica del Sto. Niño
2:00 PM	Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño
7:00 PM	Sinulog Fireworks Competition @ SM City Cebu
7:00 PM	Street party @ Fuente Osmeña and Plaza Independencia
8:00 PM	Gala – Passionata a Cultural Heritage Celebration in Honor of Sto. Niño de Cebu @ SM Cinema I
8:00 PM	Kasadya Nite Mardi Gras @ Ayala Center Cebu
8:00 PM	Handumanan Concert, USP-F Theater for the Performing Arts
January 16, 2011 (Sunday)	SINULOG GRAND PARADE
4:00 AM	Mañanita Mass @Basilica del Sto. Niño
6:00 AM	Pontifical mass with His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal
9:00 AM	Sinulog Grand Parade Carousel Kick Off
7:00 PM	Grand Fireworks, Cebu City Sports Center
7:30 PM	Street Party Bands, Fuente Osmeña
January 17, 2011 (Monday)
1:00 PM	Awarding Ceremonies, Cebu City Sports Center
January 21, 2011 (Friday)	“HUBO”
4:00 AM	“HUBO Mass” Ritual @ Basilica del Sto. Niño
January 29, 2011 (Saturday)
1:00 P.M	Screening of Finaslists Short Film/Video Documentary Contest
6:00 P.M	Awarding Ceremonies Photo Contest and Video Documentary Contest @SM City Cebu 1st Sinulat Awards, Sinulog Literary Awards for Short Story Writing, Poetry, and Essay Writing @ SM City Cebu
January 31 – Feb. 10, 2011	Photo Exhibits “Winning Photos Sinulog ‘10 @SM City Cebu
For more information: Call 253700, 2545010, telefax 4164548

//rmism//

Despicable Me

A few days ago, I had a TV-thon with my kids.  We watched The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes, and Despicable Me.  The kids surely had fun. But of all three flicks, one stood out to be their ultimate choice: Despicable Me.

Released in July 2010 by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, Despicable Me is an animated 3D movie about a supervillain named Gru (Steve Carell), who, in his quest to steal the moon, had to use three orphans, Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Grier), and Agnes (Elsie Fisher), against his prime opponent, Vector (Jason Segel).  

Softened by the cuteness and innocence of the children, he later had a change of heart leading to the rescue of the orphans who were kidnapped by Vector in exchange for a shrunken moon.

Orphans Margo, Edith, and Agnes

Despicable Me has become my kids' favorite since the first time they viewed it. However, they were made to understand of a  number of things: 

-- how lucky they were for not being orphans and not to be able to meet Ms. Hattie (Kristin Wiig), who forced children to sell cookies and put them in a "box of shame";

-- that it's not nice to have a despicable attitude; 

-- that it's not good to be a villain in reel or real life; 

-- that it's good to help but not for furtherance of an evil plan; and

-- it's not legal to steal the moon or to take anything that you do not own.

My youngest daughter loves the movie so much that she want it to be the last thing she would see right before sleeping, even just for a fraction of it, or even for five minutes, then she would fall into slumber. What she loves most are the parts when Gru tells the bedtime story and when some minions photocopy their yellow bottoms.

Same with my eldest daughter. She also loves the film that every time she says "please", she now accompanies it with "pretty." 

Well, Despicable Me is not at all despicable to me, or to my kids. It's actually a loveable one!

//rmis//