Sinulog to celebrate its 30th anniversary in January 2010

Photo from Sinulog.ph

The Sinulog 2010 will be festival to all CEBUANOS. This is not mean that outside local cities contingent cannot join Sinulog but instead to educate the local and foreign visitors on the roots of the festival. According to sunstar.com.ph Ricky Ballesteros, Sinulog Foundation Inc.’s (SFI) executive director, said that they will focus on the Sinulog-based dances and will feature Cebuano music and dances throughout the festival.

Since, the theme is "ONE BEAT ONE DANCE ONE VISION" they plan to have all sinulog dancers and musician will showcasing the real roots of Sinulog.

ARTICLE FROM SUNSTAR.COM.PH by Linette C. Ramos

“Since this is a grander celebration, we want to go back to the roots of the Sinulog, to educate the Cebuanos, especially the youth, on how the festival started. We want to show what Cebu was and has become through the years. Everything will be about Cebu and its culture,” he told Sun.Star Cebu.

Ballesteros lamented that some locals don’t know that Cebuano dances exist, that is why the SFI will present them during the grand parade.

From the launching parade in early January to the finale of the grand parade on the third Sunday of the month, Sinulog-based performances will highlight all the programs and nightly concerts.

Although the focus is on Sinulog-bases dances, the competition during the grand parade will still have the free interpretation category.

While the Sinulog-based dance can seem monotonous and plain to some spectators, Ballesteros said a lot can be done to make the performances extraordinary.

Starting this September, the organizers will hold dance workshops for all choreographers and Sinulog dancers to guide them to explore and innovate to make their
performances spectacular.

“We want to encourage them to research on the Sinulog and its evolution. There is a lot to explore. We have to go back to its roots so we can emphasize that this is the Sinulog. Since this is a bigger celebration, it’s time to showcase the best of Cebu,” Ballesteros added.

SFI has started sending invitations to out-of-town contingents to ensure their participation in Sinulog 2010.

Since next year is an election year, Ballesteros said they expect more politicians to attend the festival.

He also said they also expect more revelers, spectators and foreign guests since organizers always strive to stage a grander parade than the previous year, more so that Cebu will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the “biggest festival in the country.”

2010 will be the grandest 30th year of Sinulog Festival!!!