MY 2ND SINULOG FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE
The
third Sunday of January is one of the most festive days in a year that I commit
myself to attend to. I have to leave
Manila on a late Saturday afternoon flight since I have work commitments in the
morning. Rest-deprived, the festivity
commences immediately as soon as I disembarked from the plane.
The
beat of the drums as a form of welcome is contagious that even non-dancers make
movements along with their own unrestricted steps. The airport is filled with tourists and local
residents in their homecoming. A festive
mood it is.
CEBU’S ORIGINAL LECHON BELLY
Traffic
is congested at the main thoroughfare of Cebu City. A religious procession is ongoing. Fortunately, we were set for dinner at the
new extension of Cebu’s Original Lechon Belly branch at the Parkmall of Mandaue
City.
There’s
no better way to start the Sinulog experience than to feast on the famed lechon
belly originating from the province of Cebu.
By-products as cuisine are equally delectable in the likes of crispy dinuguan, lechon paksiw, and the
newest addition to the best sellers – spicy lechon
sinigang.
The lechon sinigang has the perfect
combination of sour and savory taste without the tamarind overpowering its
flavor. I actually don’t eat spicy lechon if there’s a choice for a regular
one. But the spicy lechon mixed in sinigang complements
well.
It
was a good night to catch up with one another, since we are based on different
provinces and this is one rare occasion that we are gathered in one dining
table. We were joined also by our friend, Mr. Marlon Gochan, the owner and
innovator of the lechon belly.
The
extension of Cebu’ Original Lechon Belly at the second floor of the Parkmall is
actually spacious and a highly recommended place to dine upon arriving at
Cebu. It is also open 24 hours that it
may serve as rendezvous for whatever time of the day and especially to those
who wants to cure a hangover from a night’s drinking spree and needs a sinigang fix or even lechon belly for an
early breakfast.
The
dinner was one satisfying and full one. Dining
at Cebu’s Original Lechon Belly is indeed a good start on how to celebrate the
Sinulog festivities, especially for those bound by time constraints such as
myself.
STREET PARADE
The Grand Parade is the main highlight of the Sinulog Festival. It starts at around 9AM but a lot of spectators converge and go the main streets as early as 6AM for a better vantage. I have learned my lesson well from last years’ experience, and so, I decided to be quite late and we headed direct to Fuente Circle and position ourselves like how we wanted it to be.
I
want to have a more relaxed way of coverage.
At times, I would go inside the nearest mall for the air-conditioning
and eat at the food court while my companions continue the photo shoot.
The
usual routine of taking photos of varied festival queens and respective
contingent street dancers, the colorful floats, puppets and merry makers then
commence.
The
parade is interrupted at lunch time and so spectators are allowed to take
photos of the participants up close. We
just have to respect and give them time to eat as it is no easy feat to be
dancing and smiling the whole day around the main thoroughfare of Cebu City
where the parade route is.
As the parade resumes after lunch, we decided to go home and prepare ourselves for the most awaited night – the street parties.
As the parade resumes after lunch, we decided to go home and prepare ourselves for the most awaited night – the street parties.
STREET PARTIES
Baseline
is every party-goer’s rendezvous, visiting Cebu City for the Sinulog
Festival. It is situated at Juana Osmena
Street but more popularly called the Baseline. We have planned to be positioned
at the Century Plaza Hotel compound.
Stampede
is the name of the game. It was a challenge
going to the venue with the shoving and aggressiveness of the crowd. But we all
managed anyway and the party started as early as before the sun sets. Sunset came and all are intoxicated.
It
was one fun party at the streets. Without
exemption, holi powder of varied
colors and water-based paints landed on each one’s shirt and faces. It was a form of merry-making that everyone
was a sport.
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