The Sinulog grand parade will focus on its religious roots as it marks its 35th year this 2015. The festival was officially launched yesterday with a parade that started at the Basilica del Sto. Niño. Previous winner and crowd favorite Tribu Lingganay from Alang-Alang town in Leyte province will join the grand parade again after skipping last year when it was devastated by Super typhoon Yolanda.
Meanwhile, sparks flew at City Hall with Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama threatening to sue the City Council over the deferral of the conversion of City Hall’s foreign loan for the South Road Properties (SRP) into a domestic one.
Here are the top Cebu news stories today:
Sinulog grand parade to focus on religiosity
The Sinulog Grand Parade will highlight the festival’s religious significance as it marks the 35th year. This year’s theme is “Sto. Nino: Hope of the People” and organizers want to emphasize the religious component of the festival.
The festival was launched yesterday with a parade from the Basilica del Sto. Niño to Fuente Osmeña and the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
“This is not just a cultural and historical event, this is a religious happening.” — Sinulog Foundation Inc. executive director Ricky Ballesteros.
Ballesteros said the festival is held on the 450th year commemoration of the finding of the Santo Niño de Cebu image and the 50th anniversary of the designation of what was then the San Agustin Church as Basilica Minore.
The stage at the CCSC, where contingents will perform their respective routines, is also patterned after the façade of the Basilica del Sto. Niño.
Today: Sinulog Sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan
Different schools will perform during this afternoon’s Sinulog sa Kabataan
1 PM Parade of Participants, Capitol Site to CCSC
2 PM Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan at the CCSC
- The Freeman: Grand parade to focus on Sinulog’s religiosity
- Sun.Star Cebu: Sinulog 2015 opens with mass, parade
- Sun.Star Cebu: Sinulog 2015 opens with mass, parade
- Sun.Star Cebu: Sculptor seeks Sto. Niño’s mercy for creating icons for money to feed his money
Tribu Lingganay returns to perform after surviving storm
Tribu Lingganay from Alang-Alang town in Leyte will be returning this Sinulog after skipping last year when Super typhoon Yolanda devastated their community.
Alang-Alang won in the free interpretation category in 2012 and 2013.
Cebu Daily News reported that 600 performers have been practicing since October for the Sinulog, even as typhoons Quennie, Ruby, and Seniang hit their community.
“We do not want to fail the Sinulog spectators. We wanted to make sure that we will be giving a good show.” — Alang-Alang contingent coordinator Kent Jefflord Guillermo.
- Cebu Daily News: Leyte storm survivors to return
Get Sinulog 2015 Guide on your phone!
DPWH working 24-hours a day to finish steel bridge in Sibonga
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) installed yesterday the steel decks of a temporary bridge in Barangay Dumlog in Sibonga. DPWH 7 Director Ador Canlas said the installation might take five days but his agency will try to do it faster.
DPWH hopes the steel bridge will be passable before the important Sinulog events: the religious procession on January 17 and the grand parade on January 18.
The 18-meter approach to the Dumlog bridge, which links Argao and Sibonga, collapsed during a flash flood at the height of tropical storm Seniang.
The temporary bridge will have the 20 tons of capacity, the same capacity as the original span.
- Sun.Star Cebu: Deadline: Sinulog
Cebu inmates dance to thank Pope Francis
More than 2,000 inmates at the Cebu provincial jail danced yesterday as prayer offering and thanksgiving to Pope Francis for visiting the Philippines. They danced to a Gregorian chant and the song “We Are All God’s Children.”
- Sun.Star Cebu: Cebu inmates dance to thank Pope
Mayor Rama threatens to sue City Council for “economic sabotage” over conversion of SRP loan
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama criticized the Cebu City Council for asking him to submit a request for the passage of a resolution to authorize the mayor to negotiate with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for the conversion of City Hall’s foreign loan for the South Road Properties (SRP) into a domestic one.
Rama said the councilors already knew about his plan and there was no need for him to file a request.
“Kahibaw na man sila ana. Kung wa sila kahibaw ana, buta sila. Kung wa sila kadungog, bungol sila. Kung wa sila kahibaw, insignificant sila. Unsa man ng klaseha uy? Dapat di na sila maghuwat. Dapat motabang sila sa mayor.” — Mayor Michael Rama.
In 1995, JICA lent Cebu City 12.315 billion yen to develop the 300-hectare SRP. Rama wants to convert the yen loan into a domestic one to save on interest and foreign exchange losses.
“He wants to keep on filing, then let him file a case. He can do what he wants. Bahala siya.” — Councilor Margarita Osmeña
Councilor Sisinio Andales says a request from the mayor is required as part of protocol and procedure. Osmeña and Andales said they are in favor of restructuring City Hall has to follow procedures for transparency and accountability, The Freeman reported.
“But if he’s going to sue us. He can file case or whatever he likes. We are willing to face him. But as I said, we cannot take a shortcut, rather follow what is proper.” — Councilor Sisinio Andales as quoted by The Freeman
- Sun.Star Cebu: ‘Economic sabotage’ vs. council
- The Freeman: Council gets new “threat”
Other top Cebu stories:
- Sun.Star Cebu: Mandaue drivers worry over move to ban tricycles from national highway
- Sun.Star Cebu: Body found not that of seaman from Cordova
- Sun.Star Cebu: 400 police to leave for Tacloban City today to help secure Pope Francis’ visit on January 17
- The Freeman: Talisay budget passed but cut by half; P350 million for Tabunok Public Market scrapped
- The Freeman: Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza not happy with police performace with surge of petty crimes; she’s worried it will affect local tourism
Cebu Business News
Local taxi drivers making more money from cab booking apps
From just P500 a day as take home pay, Ronel Diapana now earns P900 after signing up with GrabTaxi, an app that allows commuters to hail taxis using their phones. Diapana told The Freeman that with the app, he can book 5 to 10 passengers during rush hours. The difficulty in getting a cab during rush hours is pushing more commuters to use apps like GrabTaxi.
“In a way, nakatabang gyud ni siya sa transportation industry — taxi industry. Karon, di na ang drivers mangita og passengers, ang passengers na maoy mangita sa drivers. The drivers no longer have to go around to find passengers.” — Raymond Dejan, GrabTaxi Cebu sales and operations manager
- The Freeman: Cab booking app uplifts livelihood of taxi drivers
- Sun.Star Cebu: Cebu hotels brace for influx of tourists, many already fully booked for the Sinulog weekend
- The Freeman: Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry to create chapters in Bogo and Toledo
“These groups will be an extension of CCCI in the far-flung areas in Cebu. We are going to help them become legitimate and advocacy-driven business groups and not just a mere social club.” — CCCI president Ma. Teresa Chan
