SM City Cebu dances to the Sinulog beat

January 9th, 2009

SM City Cebu in partnership with the Sinulog Foundation, Inc. has prepared a series of events to celebrate the Sinulog Festival this month.

Sinulog, which comes from the Cebuano word sulog, which describes the backward-forward movement of the dance, is one of the most colorful festivals in the country. It is held annually on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City to honor the Santo Niño or Christ Child.

The festival features some of the country’s most colorful displays of ceremony and pageantry with participants dancing to the rhythm of drums and gongs in colored costumes.

Sinulog gets off to a great start at the Grand Kickoff tomorrow, Jan. 10 at the Entertainment Plaza with a party featuring the Lupon Anduyo Drumbeaters and the San Diego Dancers at 4 p.m.

Not to be missed is the Sinanduloy Sinulog Group’s Costume Exhibit at the Second Level of the Northwing from Jan. 9 to 19. The Sinanduloy Group of Tangub City will also perform on Jan. 16, 4 p.m.

Santo Niño devotees, on the other hand, will enjoy the Los Compañeros de Juego del Señor Santo Niño’s Exhibit of different images at the SM Art Center from Jan. 11 to Feb. 9. The exhibit will start with a Holy Mass at 9 a.m. at the Northwing Atrium and will be followed by a procession to the Art Center.

Shoppers will also have the chance to see the colorful photos of last year’s festivities captured by Cebu’s top photographers in the Sinulog 2008 Photo Exhibit until Jan. 31 at the second floor of the Northwing.

There will be a lot of fun shopping during all the revelry with SM City Cebu’s Sinulog Sales from Jan. 12 to 18.

The beauty of Cebuanas is captured in an exhibit of the 12 lovely finalists of the Cebu City Tourism Foundation’s Ms. Cebu 2009 at the second level of the Northwing. Shoppers can vote for their favorite candidate for Ms. Cebu and Ms. Photogenic on-line until Jan. 14. The photo shoot of the Sinulog Queen contestants is on Jan. 15 at the Entertainment Plaza.

Performances by some hottest stars and groups are also lined up for the event. The CompanY will serenade shoppers at the SM Foodcourt on Jan. 13, 4 p.m. On the same day, Pinoy Dream Academy scholars will meet and greet their fans at the Entertainment Plaza at 5 p.m. Capping the day is the visit by Love Me Again’s Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin at 6 p.m. at the Entertainment Plaza.

Guarana and Gruppo Tribale will perform on Jan. 16 at the Northwing Alfresco Area during the grand street party at 6 p.m.

Fans of Marian Rivera and Dennis Trillo will also have a chance to meet them on Jan. 17, 2 p.m. at the old V-Hire Terminal, while Cueshé will perform at the Entertainment Plaza at 5 p.m.

Cebu skies will dazzle on the same day with first-ever Sinulog Fireworks Competition at 8 p.m. fronting the Northwing. Six contestants from Cebu and other provinces will join the competition.

Adding more fun and laughter at the festivities is Vhong Navarro, who will perform at the Entertainment Plaza on Jan. 18, while film enthusiasts can view the short films of participants in the Sinulog Documentary Contest on Jan. 31 at the mall’s Cinema 4.