The sound of Sinulog* beats echoed across Praça da Amizade (友誼廣場) yesterday as members of the local Filipino community danced in vibrant costumes in celebration of the highly anticipated Sinulog Festival Macau.
The festival is celebrated in Cebu on the third Sunday of January to honour “Santo Niño” – the child Jesus. Its local iteration, which is organised by the Associação do Santo Niño de Cebu em Macau, was first held in 2003.
Marking 22 years of celebration in the city, the colourful event drew crowds from not just the Filipino community, but locals and visitors alike. Among them, Nina, a 20-year-old tourist told the Post that the local event served as her first-ever encounter with the festival. “I was just surprised that there was this international thing going on, but I think it’s really cool that everyone comes together”.
Travelling from Switzerland, Nina said: “I’m excited about what’s going to happen, although I don’t quite know what it is”.
The annual event had kicked off in the morning with a Eucharistic Mass at St. Augustine’s Church before moving on to the main venue – Praça da Amizade, colloquially known as Sintra Square. The parade, an event highlight, was then held in the afternoon and ran along Avenida Doutor Mário Soares (蘇亞利斯博士大馬路) before concluding in Avenida Panorâmica do Lago Nam Van (南灣湖景大馬路), capturing the attention of many curious onlookers.
Performances also took place as the event went on, along with the Sinulog dance contest, which comprised four competing groups. One of them told the Post that they were beyond happy and excited to be a part of the festival, feeling as though they had already won something just by being there. Patrick, the group’s coach, further highlighted that dancing at the event was not about competing, but showing your devotion to Santo Niño and how grateful you are for all the good things that has happened to you.
Echoing the group’s strong feelings of devotion was spectator Angel, 42.
Particularly, Angel, who has been in Macau for nearly two years and used to travel to Cebu just to celebrate the event, who felt elated that she could celebrate the event in Macau, with yesterday marking the first time that she was participating in it here.
“It’s very comforting for us, especially since we are here and far away from our families. Even if we are in a different part of the world, at least he [Santo Niño] is still there to guide and protect us…it’s already a privilege to see him here”, said Angel, who had also joined in on the celebration at St. Augustine’s Church. “He is still protecting and looking after us through all the difficulties we face as OFWs [Overseas Filipino Workers] in Macau. So, we are blessed that we can still celebrate this here”.
Aside from devotion, a sense of togetherness among the community was also present, Associação do Santo Niño de Cebu em Macau President Violeta Duran told the Post yesterday. “The significance of this event in Macau is to have all Filipinos in Macau united”, gathering all in one place to celebrate the festival.
* “Sinulog” is derived from the Cebuano word “Sulog”, which means water current movement. It refers to the ritual prayer dance honouring Santo Niño (“Holy Child”) and is reminiscent of the water current movement, according to a report by the Post last year. It is done to the drumming of Sinulog beats.
Photos: Rui Pastorin