After two ill-advised years at the South Road Properties, the Sinulog Grand Ritual Showdown will make its much-anticipated come-back at the Cebu City Sports Center, its original stomping ground, on Sinulog Sunday, January 19.
Gov. Gwen Garcia, who has confirmed her participation in the Sinulog, said that aside from the usual prayer for the good of Cebu and the Cebuanos, her Sinulog dance offering this year will be one in thanksgiving.
“This is not just a prayer offering to the Sñr. Sto. Niño; this is also in thanksgiving because finally the Sinulog is back where it belongs; nga gibalik ang Sinulog sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo sa mga katawhan. Dili didto sa hilabihang layoa ug init kaayo nga SRP,” Gov. Gwen said in a media conference on January 3.
The Governor will be joined in her annual Sinulog tradition by the award-winning dancers of the Dagitab Festival of the City of Naga, grand winner of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2024. She said she will be appearing with the patented luminous costume of the Dagitab Festival dancers.
“I cannot do nothing less. I cannot be appearingthere nga wala koy suga,” Gov. Gwen said.
The governor also welcomed the decision of the Cebu City government, under Mayor Raymond Garcia, to no longer hold the Sinulog sa Lalawigan and the Sinulog sa Dakbayan, by accommodating all performances in the Grand Ritual Showdown.
Aside from saving on cost, she added that the move also shows a united Cebu in praise and thanksgiving to the Sto. Niño.
“What is Sinulog?” she asked rhetorically. “Sinulog is a celebration of the people in faith and thanksgiving to our Sñr. Sto. Niño. How do you celebrate that exclusively at the SRP? That is not a celebration by the Cebuanos.”
The Governor also clarified that her annual participation in the Sinulog is not an opportunity to attract attention but a fulfilment of her vow to the Sto. Niño to always dance, whenever she is able, as long as she is Cebu Governor, as part of her “duty” as Cebu’s highest ranked local chief executive.
It can be noted that the Governor has been consistent with her Sinulog dance offering tradition, even during her lowest time when she was suspended from office in January 2013. During the pandemic, she offered her Sinulog dance in front of the Capitol Building, since an actual Sinulog was not even possible.
“Every time I participate, it is not to bring the spotlight to myself,” Gov. Gwen said. “I always offer this as a prayer for all of Cebu — karon dili lang para sa lalawigan apan sa tibuok Sugbo — to our Sñr. Sto. Niño. Nga unta hatagan ta niya og giya, labi na kaming mga lideres, giya sa pahimutang og mga polisiya ug paghimog mga desisyon nga sa kanunay ang kaayohan sa kadaghanan maoy mopatigbabaw.”
“Labaw niana nga tagaan ta sa proteksyon nga unta kung unsa mang mga kalamidad ang mahitabo, ang Sugbo ilikay na sa uban pang mga kalamidad,” she added.