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Sinulog 2023 | Return after two years of interruption
Sinulog 2023 in Cebu will be a great event after two years of interruption. Basilica Minore del Santo Nino de Cebu has officially declared that it will resume the majestic Sinulog Festival in honor of Senor Santo Nino on January 2023. The activities for the Sinulog 2023 will take place at the South Road Properties (SRP) on January 5-20. Sinulog grand parade 2023 will be Sunday, January 15.
Come and look by yourself of Sinulog and feel your heart pumping with the drums. Feel the excitement washing over you and bathe in the irresistible aroma of street food. If you are looking for a refreshing and exciting experience, do not miss your chance to visit a Sinulog festival.
Before and after the Sinulog Grand Parade, you will find street parties and live concerts on almost every corner of Cebu. Watch the video below, and you’ll see how crazy the parties can be!
Sinulog 2023 Festival description
Sinulog is a famous festival in the Philippines. It is a ritual prayer dance honoring the Señor Sto. Niño held every third Sunday of January, in the 2023 year it will be Sunday, January 15. This ritual dance tells the story of the Filipino people’s pagan past and their acceptance of Christianity. Sinulog festival’s place of origin is Cebu because, in this city, Catholicism was born, and the first mass was said.
The first Sinulog grand parade was held in 1980, and the festival has since become one of the Philippines’ biggest events. Sinulog is a vast and colorful fiesta filled with music and dancing. The parades are always colorful and fun. Sinulog is a celebration of love and life inspired by the passion of Filipinos. Festivals are becoming more prominent and bolder each year. An impressive 1-2 million visitors flood the streets each year to experience this magical event.
On the morning of the parade, follow the crowds walking to the parade. Get to the parade early to find an open spot to watch and take pictures. As the day progresses, the crowds get larger and it becomes more difficult to find a place to see the parade. The beautiful costumes and colorful, lively dances make Sinulog Festival unforgettable.
Sinulog 2023 Festival History
Sinulog celebrates the country’s most famous historical relic: the Santo Niño de Cebu. A statue of Jesus Christ was handed over to Rajah Humabon by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. Remarkably, the original statue is still in Cebu to this day and is dutifully protected by bulletproof glass in the Basílica Menor del Santo Niño.
Queen Juana held a baby Jesus statue and danced joyfully. She showed other natives how to do it as well. This was the first Sinulog dance and became the basis for most other dances.
During the Sinulog Festival, girls dress lavishly like Queen Juana and hold the Santo Niño. They dance and ‘bless’ the people with it to ward off evil spirits.
Meaning of “Sinulog”
The term “Sinulog” is derived from the Cebuano word “sulog,” roughly referring to a movement like the water current. The Sinulog dance consists of a forward-backward movement — two steps forward and one step back- in tune with a recognizable drumbeat that identifies this festivity.
Witness the Sinulog Grand Parade
Fluvial Parade, Solemn Procession and ‘Kaplag’
Fluvial Parade usually is a day before the Sinulog Grand Parade. In 2023 year, it will be on January 14. It will start at 6 am.
The Solemn Procession is in the afternoon at around 2 pm. Kaplag typically follows it. It is a colorful performance. Young people usually show a historical scene when Ferdinand Magellan handed over Santo Niño to Rajah Humabon and Queen Juana. It was a moment when they were baptized as Catholics.
During the festival period will be other events like Sinulog sa Kabataan, Sinulog Dance Crew, search for Ms. Cebu, and many others.
Sinulog Grand Parade
Sinulog Grand Parade is the center of the Santo Niño celebration in the Philippines. In the 2023 year, it will be on January 15. It starts at 8:30 am. Before Grand Parade usually is Mananita and Pontifical mass at the Basilica Minore Del Santo Nino and a Holy Mess at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Sinulog Grand Parade is a long procession of several groups of street dancers. They wear bright and admirable costumes. Some of them are on decorated platforms.
Dancers go through the whole city. They perform the Sinulog dance or their dance steps. Some dance performances are interpretations of how Santo Niño had helped their respective communities. A girl in front of each group holds Santo Nino in her hands. She represents Queen Juana.
Around 4 pm, the grand parade typically ends, and the street dancers will do their final performance at the Cebu City Sports Complex. This is where they will hold the competition leg of the Sinulog festival with various prize categories. You can watch this event on TV, which is excellent because Cebu City Sports Complex is usually too packed.
Sinulog Fireworks
The parade ends with fireworks at 9 pm at the Cebu Business Park in Ayala Center Cebu. This is a grand spectacle and an excellent conclusion to this fantastic event.
Sinulog 2023 | Official Novena Mass Schedule
DAY 1: JANUARY 5, 2023 (THURSDAY) – OPENING SALVO
- 3:30 AM – Assembly Time at Fuente Osmena (Route: Osmeña Blvd. to Basilica)
- 4:00 AM – Penitential Walk with Jesus
- 5:00 AM – Solemn Mass for the Opening Salvo (Cebuano)
- 5:00 AM – Installation of Hermano Mayor and Hermana Mayores 2020
- 7:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 8:30 AM – Holy Mass (English)
- 10:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 11:30 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 1:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
- 2:30 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 4:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 5:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
- 7:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
DAY 2: JANUARY 6, 2023 (FRIDAY) – 2ND NOVENA
- 4:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 5:30 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 7:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 8:30 AM – Holy Mass (English)
- 10:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 11:30 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 1:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
- 2:30 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 2:30 PM – Opening Slavo of Sinulog Festival
- 4:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 5:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
- 7:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
DAY 3-8: JANUARY 7 (SATURDAY) TO JANUARY 12 (THURSDAY) – NOVENA MASS
- 4:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 5:30 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 7:00 AM– Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 8:30 AM – Holy Mass (English)
- 10:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 11:30 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 1:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
- 2:30 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 4:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 5:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
- 7:00 PM– Holy Mass (English)
DAY 9: JANUARY 13, 2023 (FRIDAY)
- 3:00 AM – Procession from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church to Fuente Circle
(Route: Our Lady of Guadalupe Church – V Rama Ave. – left to B Rodriguez St. – Fuente Circle)
- 3:30 AM – Assembly at Fuente Osmena
- 4:00 AM – Penitential Walk with Mary (Route: Osmena Blvd. to Basilica
- 5:30 AM – Misa de Traslacion Mass (Cebuano)
TRASLACION – CEBU CITY TO MANDAUE CITY
(Route: Basilica – Osmena Blvd – MJ Cuenco Avenue – (Central Nautical Highway) Lopez Jaena St. – A. Del Rosario St – S.B. Cabahug St. – National Shrine of St. Joseph)
- 7:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 8:30 AM – Holy Mass (English)
- 10:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 11:30 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 1:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
- 2:30 PM– Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 4:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 5:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
- 7:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
DAY 10: JANUARY 14, 2023 (SATURDAY) – VISPERAS DAY
MASSES AT THE BASILICA
- 5:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 6:30 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 8:00 AM – Holy Mass (English)
- 9:30 AM – Holy Mass (English)
- 11:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 12:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
- 2:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 3:30 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
VISPERAS
- 5:00 PM – Solemn Visperas Mass (Cebuano) Traditional Religious Sinulog
- 6:30 PM – Grand Mobile Procession (Cebuano)
DAY 11: JANUARY 15, 2023 (SUNDAY) – FIESTA SENOR DAY
- 5:00 AM – Mañanita Mass (Cebuano)
- 6:30 AM – Misa Pontifical de la “Fiesta Señor”
- 8:00 AM – Holy Mass (English)
- 9:30 AM – Holy Mass (English)
- 11:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 12:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
- 2:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 3:30 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 5:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
- 6:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
Note: All Masses of the Fiesta Señor will be concluded with the Traditional Sinulog Dance
DAY 12: JANUARY 16, 2023 (MONDAY) – THANKSGIVING DAY
- 6:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 7:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 8:30 AM – Holy Mass (English)
- 10:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 12:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
- 2:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 4:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 5:30 PM – Holy Mass (English)
- 7:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
DAY 13: JANUARY 20, 2023 (FRIDAY) – ADLAW SA HUBO
- 4:00 AM – Misa Solemne sa “HUBO” (Venue: Santo Niño Pilgrim Center)
- 6:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 7:00 AM – Holy Mass (English)
- 8:00 AM – Holy Mass (English)
- 9:00 AM – Holy Mass (English)
- 10:00 AM– Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 11:00 AM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 12:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
- 1:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 2:00 PM – Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 3:00 PM– Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 4:00 PM– Holy Mass (Cebuano)
- 5:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
- 6:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
- 7:00 PM – Holy Mass (English)
For the complete list of events, check out this link.
Sinulog 2023 | Cebu Music Festivals & Concerts
Sinulog festivity aims to protect and strengthen our relationship with God through prayer, meditation, and thanksgiving. Sinulog also presents cultural events that include singing and dancing to celebrate Saint Niño’s miracle.
1 VERVE SINULOG FESTIVAL
The Verve Sinulog Festival is the first in a series of major annual events in Cebu. The festival will be held on January 7, 2023. It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this exciting and festive Sinulog event with friends and family!
Photo from Verve Music Festival Facebook Page
When: January 7, 2023, 3:00 PM to 3:00 AM
Who: Ace Banzuelo, John Roa, Cookie$, Range; Wonggoys, Oh! Caraga, Flirt, DJs Victor Jao, Via Chan, Toffi Jamiro, and Renzo. The event will also feature one of the Top 100 DJ’S in the world – Will Sparks together with the Australian DJ Brooklyn as the supporting artist.
Where: SM Seaside Complex
Ticket Price:
(Regular Prices)
- Ad – ₱1,000
- VIP – ₱2,000
- SVIP – ₱3,500
(Student Prices)
- Ad – ₱500
- VIP – ₱1,000
- SVIP – ₱2,500
Where to Book: www.SMtickets.com, www.TicketNation.com
Facebook Event Link: Verve Music Festival
2 SMF: Sinulog Music Festival
During the three-day extravaganza from January 13–15, 2023, will be music with a Woodstock theme . The event is called The Sinulog Music Festival in honor of the ancient festival that celebrates Sinulog and speaks to the lives of its people. The festival will be centered on three days full of music and dance, with participants able to join in for performances by the very best artists in their craft.
Photo from Sinulog Music Festival Facebook Page
Where: SRP Grounds, Cebu City
Ticket Price:
– Jan 13-14 Tickets –
- VIP – ₱2,100
- Ad – ₱1,100
– Jan 15 Tickets –
- VIP – ₱550
- Ad – ₱350
Where to Book: Tickets
Facebook Event Link: Sinulog Music Festival
3 Careless Music Festival
The Careless Music Festival, or Wavy Baby Music Festival, will take place on January 13 and 14, 2023, at Mandaue City’s North Reclamation Area. SUMNI, PINK SWEAT$, The Rose, Destiny Rogers, bagraiders, DJ Yultron, James Reid, SOS, August Wahh, Ben&Ben, December Avenue, Lesha, Urbandub, Franco, Massiah, The Sundown, and more artists will be included in the first edition.
Photo from Careless Music Manila Facebook Page
When: January 13-14, 2023
Who: Sunmi, Pink Sweat$, The Rose, Destiny Rogers, Bag Raiders, DJ Yultron, Ben&Ben, December Avenue, Franco, A-Team, Issa, SOS, August Wahh, Lesha, Jolianne, Massiah, The Sundown, Mandaue Nights, Sepiatimes, Three Legged Men, Wonggoys
Where: North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City
Ticket Price: To be announced.
Where to Book: Limited pre-sale tickets are now available for Maya users on www.wavybabyfest.com
Facebook Event Link: Careless Music Manila
4 February 18: Plus63 Music & Arts Festival
A dynamic multicultural, multi-genre aural ambiance is created by the yearly music and arts festival, which brings together local and international talent. The Philippines’ national code, +63, inspired the name of the event, which aims to place the nation on the map of must-attend festivals worldwide. The unique PLUS63 Festival, which takes place where the city and the sea converge in Cebu, is created for those with an inquisitive and creative spirit.
Photo from PLUS63 Music & Arts Festival Facebook Page
When: February 18, 2023
Who: Joji of 88Rising, Kehlani, Paul Pablo, The Sundown, Sansette, DJ Short
Where: SM Seaside Complex
Ticket Price: To be announced soon. Tickets will be available on December 10, 2022, at 11 AM.
Where to Book: PLUS63 FESTIVAL
Facebook Event Link: PLUS63 Music & Arts Festival
Sinulog 2023 | How to get to Cebu
Buy your tickets to Cebu in advance and fly to Sinulog Festival at least 1 day earlier.
Find cheap flights to Cebu:
- Manila to Cebu flights
- Davao to Cebu flights
- Puerto Princesa to Cebu
- Iloilo to Cebu flights
- Bangkok to Cebu flights
- Dubai to Cebu flights
- Singapore to Cebu flights
Find cheap ferries to Cebu:
Sinulog 2023 | Take care of yourself
Some roads will be closed to vehicles, and you will have to walk. You will have to walk a lot on the day of the festival. So, wear comfortable shoes.
Be careful. Do not bring a lot of money and valuables with you. Make sure to hide your stuff well in your pocket or bag.
Take care of a bottle of water with you to avoid dehydration. You’ll be under the sun for a lot of time. Do not forget to wear sunblock.
What else to do in Cebu?
Come and check the Cebu page, where you can find the top things to do in Cebu, which features the best activities and tours to do in the city, and more!
