Marvel and dance to the beat of the street drums as the Queen City of the South takes you to the grandest celebration in the Philippines, the Sinulog festival!
BACKGROUND
From a Cebuano word “sulog” which means “like water current movement”, the Sinulog dance is consists of two steps forward and one step backward done to the beat of the drum. This dance-ritual is done in honor of Cebu’s patron Señor Sto, Niño (the Child Jesus).
HISTORY
When Ferdando de Magallanes, a Portuguese navigator, arrived in Cebu in 1521, he presented the image of the child Jesus as a baptismal gift to Rahaj Humabon’s wife, Hara Amihan. She was later named Queen Juana.
This event is frequently used as basis for most Sinulog dances, which dramatize the coming of the Spaniards and the presentation of the Santo Niño to the Queen. A popular theme among Sinulog dances is Queen Juana holding the Santo Niño in her arms and using it to bless her people who are often afflicted by sickness caused by demons and other evil spirits.
THE COMING OF LEGAZPI
After Magellan met his death on April 27, 1521 on the shores of Mactan (ruled by Muslim Rajah Lapu-Lapu), the remnants of his men returned to Spain. However, it took 44 years before the Spaniards achieved some measure of success in colonizing the islands and eventually the whole Philippines.
The conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi arrived in Cebu on April 28, 1565 and destroyed the village ruled by Rajah Tupas. In one of the huts of the burning village, one of Legazpi’s soldiers named Juan Camus found a wooden box containing the image of the Santo Niño lying amongst several native idols. Historians later said that during the 44 years between the coming of Magellan and Legazpi, the natives of Cebu continued to dance the Sinulog but no longer to worship their anitos but to show their reverence to the Santo Niño.
The Augustinian friars that accompanied Legazpi in his expedition proclaimed the statue miraculous and built a church on the site where it was found. The church was called San Agustin Church but was later renamed to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.
Filed under: CEBU, FESTIVALS, travel philippines, vacation
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