SINULOG 2008 CEBU PHILIPPINES!

The buzz in Cebu was that the prisoners of YouTube fame wanted to participate in the Sinulog Mardigras parade, and the officials seriously considered it. They couldn't ignore that these prisoners are in the top 10 of YouTube's videos and mentioned thus in Time Magazine. But in the end, the officials decided they are still prisoners and were not allowed to leave the confines of their prison house. However, as a concession, those who wanted to see them perform could go the Capitol at a certain time, catch a shuttle that would take them to the prisonhouse to watch their performance.

The talk is that the two prisoners who have muscled these now-famous dancing videoclips are in prison for "estafa" and for drugs - they aren't murderers or anything like that.

This year - 2008 - the Sinulog has been rainy! Saturday, it rained off and on for the fluvial parade of the Santo Nino, for the procession, attended by a million people. Roads were closed off, people crammed the procession route or joined the procession, and it was quite something to watch the people's faces when the Santo Nino in His carro appeared - the cheers, the waving, the energy were impressive. All of this during a heavy downpour.

The next day, Sunday, was mardigras day. The weather forecast was a strong storm, and talk was that numerous eggs were delivered to the Carmelites, as is the tradition, if you want to keep it from raining. The nuns apparently pray for dry weather and God knows what they do with all the eggs they receive. It was dry for most of the day, but it did rain in the afternoon, but the participants of the parade kept right on. Apparently 2 million people watched the parade.


Monday, the Casa Gorordo had a Sinulog Bisaya, danced by Evelita Diola and her troupe. This is the real prayer dance by an octagenarian who remembers what it was like in the 1930s. It's a very folksy, heartfelt dance, nothing glitzy like the Sinulog mardigras. I am not sure how to describe it, the drums still beat out the sinulog beat. The dancers are dressed as Spaniards and Natives, reenacting I suppose the origins of the Santo Nino, which had been brought to Cebu by Ferdinand Magellan. What was interesting was when the Evelita Diola, prayed verbally to the Santo Nino and she mentioned Don Mariano. Later, we learned that she prayed for my grandfather Mariano Cuenco, for whom she had worked in Colon, many years ago.


Stay tuned, dear Readers, stay tuned!



Pictures show:
Top: Joy Guerra, Louie Nacorda, Gavin Bagares, Gav's friend, and me in a post-Sinulog celebration;
Next: Terry Manguerra and me with Evelita Diola (in yellow)
Bottom pictures show Joe and Rita Suaco, and Chinggay and Joe Utzurrum