Weeklong Sinulog Special: Up Close and Personal with Sinulog Princesses

"In every parade, there are groups (tribu) in compet with each other.  And in every group, there's always that somebody who acts as a leader bearing the image of the Sto. Niño.  I am always delighted every time I see them because they are always beautiful.  Apart from possessing ethereal beauty, they are also very graceful in their sways, struts, and sashays.  I even dreamed of becoming one of them but I didn't know what they are called.  But after years of watching them admiringly and doing some research, I now learned that they are called the Sinulog Princesses.

Not just a pretty face, the Sinulog Princess plays a vital role in the tribu.

She's recognized to be the leader from whom the whole group relies upon.

She protects her tribu by not committing mistakes that may sabotage the group.

She has to be strong so she could stand up for her tribu when adversaries arise.

She must behave herself properly to be a good role model to all young females in her tribu.

She must portray how to pay tribute to Señor Sto. Niño with proper respect and reverence like an innocent child.

And just like any other princesses, she must also represent her kingdom with real grace, glamour, and elegance.  So all Sinulog Princesses must present herself as fabulous as she could!"

- Excerpt from Sinulog Princesses (Jan. 21, 2013)

This year, I got the rarest opportunity to get up close and personal with three Sinulog Princesses!  To start with, meet

Danna

Danna is a 14-year old high school student of Don Vicente Rama Memorial National High School, commonly known as Basak-Pardo High School.  Like me, she is also a panaad to Senior Sto. Niño.  According to her, "I have been dancing since I was 6 years old and I am very lucky to be Sinulog Princess in this very young age!  And even if I won't be Sinulog princess next year anymore, I won't stop dancing my whole life through!"

Christy

Christy is a 16-year old first year college student of the University of San Carlos, taking up BS Psychology.  She has been raised from a family of Sto. Niño devotees.  "My mom was a Sinulog princess in her younger days and she was the one who trained me to become a princess too.  It was as if, she had me betrothed to this destiny on the day that I was born."

Bernadette

Bernadette is also a 16-year old first year college student of the University of San Jose Recoletos, taking up BS Civil Engineering.  She always dreams of becoming a Sinulog princess so she joins every Sinulog dance compet since she entered high school.  Now that she's a princess, she is very thankful to Sto. Niño for making her dream come true!  "I still can't believe that I'm in this position.  All my hard work had been paid off!  But it is not the fame nor glamour that I'm after.  This dance is for Sto. Niño and I do this to make him happy", she quips.

From the quick convos I had with these three lovely Sinulog Princesses, I can say that being one is never an easy job.  You have to be trained very well on how to act and dance, keep your skin healthy and your body fit to be picture perfect, and increase your vigor to endure one whole day of dancing in the streets.  Plus, the image of the Sto. Niño is too heavy to be held for the entire day.  Days and nights of rehearsals should be attended without absences so if you are a Sinulog Princess, you can never be a prima donna!  

Indeed, behind the glitz, glamour, and fame is actually all hard work and pain!  With this, I salute all Sinulog Princesses not just for pleasing our eyes but also for the faith they have in their hearts.  Thank you so much, Danna, Christy, and Bernadette for sharing your beauty, talent, and story to me and for my blog readers!  'Till we meet again! :)

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Weeklong Sinulog Special: My Sinulog 2014 Experience

"Every time I hear the word “Sinulog”, I equate it with Cebu.  For only Cebu has this really big festivities every third Sunday of January of each year.  People from all over the Philippines and around the world visit Cebu just to celebrate this feast of the Sto. Niño."

- Excerpt from The Queen City of the South - Cebu (My Adventures)

Years of Sinulog-ing haven't died out in me yet.  In fact, it gets better, bigger, more exciting, and more fascinating to me each year!  Every year gives me different experiences, different companions, and different reasons.  And for this year, my Sinulog experience has been special due to the following:

Traveling Alone

Not that I haven't traveled alone ever, but it was my first time to travel alone for Sinulog.  My parents and sister were not with me because they got scared of possible stormy seas due to the typhoon.  But thank God for giving me calm seas to and fro Cebu!     

Queuing for Hot Water Since We Were Held at the Middle of the Sea to Make Way for the Fluvial Procession

Hearing Mass

As a non-Catholic Christian, I don't participate in doing Catholic religious rites anymore.  But as my cousins and I passed by the Basilica after picking me up at the pier, I was enthralled to hear mass.  So after the longest time, I heard mass at the Basilica again!  But I didn't worship the Sto. Niño.  It was still GOD to whom I prayed to.  And He paved the way in making my Cebu weekend getaway complete!

Mass at the Basilica after the Fluvial Procession

Loving the Weather

Due to the tropical depression, the whole of the Philippines is experiencing a cold weather now.  And it was also my first time to experience cold weather in Cebu.  In my years of stay and visits in Cebu, I never got cold though it would rain hard.  But as what I had prayed for, God did not let Mr. Sunshine radiate too much hotness and He did not let Mr. Raindrops to pour.  Instead, He gave us a chilly good atmosphere to roam around without the fuss of using an umbrella.

Outside the Basilica Complex

Shopping for Supplies

"Hitting two birds in one stone" - that has always been my life motto!  So to make my Cebu visit more sulit, I also shopped for supplies for the store.  We went to my fave place in the city, the Colon-Carbon shopping district where I can always find the cheapest wholesale prices of everything I need for my store.

We Owned the Streets!

Witnessing the Procession

If in the morning is the fluvial procession, in the afternoon is the procession around the city.  And we were more than privileged to welcome the original image of the Sto. Niño as it went out from the Basilica's gate!  We were right there in front of the carriage just before the Sto. Niño roamed around Cebu.

Other Sto. Niño Images During the Procession (didn't get the chance to take a photo of the original one)

Watching Fireworks

In my opinion, Cebu amazes me with grandiose fireworks next to Singapore!  My jaw still drops as I look up the sky, clap my hands, and says my "wow" in awe!  This just brings out the child in me.

Light Up the Sky at SM Cebu

DIY-ing my Sinulog Shirt

I recycled my 2007 Sinulog shirt!  I cut it myself and styled it myself!  I was super surprised with what I did!  I realized that I can be artistic at times too.  Hehe....   

Watch Out for My Feature Friday Post this Week!

Getting a Henna

Since my parents were not with me, I got a henna tat!  Tattoo booths were just all around and for only 50 pesos, I got a moon and stars on my leg.  So why moon and why stars?  Well, this just symbolizes that time may not be ours yet, but someday.....

Wearing You on Sinulog Day!

Lunching with My Bestie

I skip lunch during Sinulogs since there are plenty of street food everywhere.  But this time, I had a decent lunch with one of my best friends who took effort in seeing me right after her escapade in Bora.  I was so touched that fresh from the airport, she met me and even walked me to the pier to send me off!

With Cherry Ann and Boyfie Francis

And so, that is just my first Sinulog 2014 story!  Watch out for more as I'll do it a week long special this week! :)  For more photos, click here!      

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