Sinulog Festival

CEBU CITY, Philippines - A heavy downpour on Sunday afternoon failed to dampen the spirits of the Cebu City jail inmates as they danced their hearts out to praise the Sto. Niño in their version of the Sinulog festivities.

Despite the rain that almost ruined the inmates’ props, costumes and make-up, jail officials said that this year’s Sinulog sa Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC) was the grandest of all.

Anecita Santaflor, 51, mother of one of the inmates at the BBRC in Barangay (village) Kalunasan, Cebu City, said that even the Child Jesus was happy with the “halad” offered by the inmates.

“Murag nalingaw ang Sto. Niño sa ilang (inmates) mga sayaw, gi-blessingan gud mi ug uwan (It seems that the Sto. Niño enjoyed their offering dances. He blessed us with rain),” Santaflor said.

About 200 out of 1,990 inmates participated in the Sinulog dance competition on Sunday. Most of them entered the dance competition voluntarily and even poured out most of their savings into the costumes and props.

Superintendent Efren Nemeño, BBRC jail warden, said that since 1997 when he was assigned in Cebu City, the Sinulog activities here were usually simple.

“Mostly kung maghalad sila kay simple ra ang costume ug props (Mostly if they would offer to dance for the Sto. Nino they would just wear simple costumes and use simple props),” Nemeño said.

But this year, the inmates were more dedicated in making the Sinulog dances grander.

“Engrande gyud karung tuiga, niabang pa ug mga colorful costumes ang mga inmates (The presentations were grander this year. The inmates even rented colorful costumes),” Nemeño said.

The Sinulog has been celebrated since the jail was still in Barangay (village) Apas, Cebu City. Nemeño said the yearly Sinulog jail celebration was a way for inmates to continue to enjoy mainstream culture.

He said the celebration also promoted camaraderie and cooperation between inmates.

Nemeño said that the inmates got their funding for props and costumes from their own pockets through their inmates' cooperative.

Five groups made up of 40 inmates participated in the Sinulog dance competition starting at 1 p.m. yesterday.

Nemeño said that the inmates who participated in the contest are from different cell blocks in the jail. The Cebu City jail has 42 cells.

Nemeño ordered an extended visitation time for inmates' families so they could also enjoy the festivities.

Tribu Manunuba, who wore dark, red native costumes with a bamboo wine dispenser, won the P25,000 first prize.

Tribu Peacekeeper, with green native costumes, took the second prize title and bagged the P15,000 prize.

The Pundok Hugnayon, who wore similar outfit as the Tribu Basakanon, pocketed the P10,000 third prize money.