Experience Sinulog: Five Ways to Get Ready for Your First Sinulog




“Sulog is a Cebuano word which means—like water current movement” –Author Unknown 

Among all the places in the world, Cebu City celebrates the most extended Christmas.
Much like other Filipinos, the festivities commence at the start of the ber months where they can already routinely hear Christmas songs blaring from mall radios. However, while the Christmas celebrations and festivities cease on the feast of the three kings on January 6 (or twelfth of January at the latest for most), Cebuanos have another festival on January to look forward to. Enter Sinulog, an iconic Cebuano festival that has been celebrated since the eighties and has now become the Philippines’ biggest and most popular festival. Every year, Cebu experiences an influx of tourists and local visitors alike by the droves—all of which who are looking to experience the world renown festival.
Whether they wish to pay homage to Cebu’s patron saint (and the reason for the festival) or just want to party Sinulog-style, it pays to know what you should be expecting and to be prepared for it—especially if you are a first-timer. So, before you start scouring the net for budget hotels in Cebu City, here are some things you need to consider to prepare for your first Sinulog experience:


1.)    Put on your comfiest ensemble of clothes 


Sinulog is definitely not the time to be rocking out your ootd’s as you will be spending most of your time on your feet. As most roads are closed (especially during the feast day itself which falls on the third Sunday of January), you can expect to be getting around some major points in the city only by walking.  As a result, there are several traffic chokepoints in the city which makes commuting much more of a hassle than just by traveling on foot. Incidentally, if you wish to party, you best wear clothes that you are not likely going to miss as there is a big chance you are going to have paint smeared on you. After all, they do not call the parties of Sinulog “wet” for nothing.

2.)    Prepare sunscreen 


Depending on the weather, there is a likely chance you are going to get sunburnt if you do not apply sunscreen beforehand. You are going to be out and about the whole day, and even if it does rain, it will bode you well if you protected your skin with SPF lotion. Do not risk getting a bad sunburn over the weekend, and just apply sunscreen ahead.


3.)    Stay hydrated 


Before enjoying the festivities, bring a bottle of water with you to ensure that you can stay hydrated to enjoy the festival. Load up on the water whenever you can and always stay hydrated especially if you intend on partying for the entire day.

4.)    Ensure your gadgets are covered in water-proof cases 


The street parties that occur on Sinulog can get pretty crazy and wild—so much so that one can expect a shower of liquids in any form (from water to beer and even tequila). Protect your gadgets such as your phones and cameras by investing in water-proof cases as you will never know when a beer shower might erupt. If you have a limited budget, consider using Ziploc plastic bags as an alternative as they are just as effective.


5.)    Remember to maintain a positive attitude 


Sinulog street parties are known for being some of the wildest parties thrown in Cebu, and over the years, it has gained popularity (and in some cases, infamy) for being a bit unruly and rowdy. However, do remember that most Cebuanos do this out of fun and they truly do mean no harm when you get smeared with paint or dunked with water. However, if you do wish not to get wet or dirty, it is best if you avoided these parties altogether as beer showers, paint smears and the like are the norms during these parties. 

Image Source

Mga Komento

Mga sikat na post sa blog na ito

Cebu Cuisine: The Best Tasting Lechon in Cebu

Sinulog 2018: Four Things You Can Look Forward To Apart From Raves and Street Parties

Weekend in Mactan: Three Things to Do in Lapu Lapu City