The image of the Santo Niño is carried in procession after Mass. (Photo by Oswald Vas)
– Rachel Luna Peralta
A vibrant display of faith, devotion, unity, and artistry among hundreds of Filipino Catholics highlighted the 19th Feast of the Santo Niño (Child Jesus) and 17th Sinulog Dance Competition in Macau on January 20, 2019.
Sinulog, a time-honored Filipino Catholic tradition spanning 454 years, is a veneration of the miraculous image of the Santo Niño believed to have been gifted by the Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, to Hara Amihan (or Humamay) of Sugbo (Cebu’s old name) during her and her husband Rajah Humabon’s baptism to Christianity. “Sinulog” is derived from the word “sinug,” which was a pagan dance ritual performed by the Sugbuanons or the natives of Sugbu, depicting the flowing water of Pahina River.
The Macau version of Sinulog is both solemn and festive as it includes nine-day novena Masses at the Pastoral Center and the grand fiesta celebration – Holy Mass at San Agustin Church, fellowship lunch, procession, and dance competition at the Praca do Lago de Sai Van Macao Tower.
The Bisdak Association of Macau retained its title as Sinulog Macao Grand Champion and bagged the Best Costume, Best in Street Dancing, and Best Choreography awards, as well. Other winners are Orient Premier Tribe (1st Runner-Up), Debutantes in Macao (2nd Runner-Up), Tribu BisMac (3rd Runner-Up), Queen City of the South – Cebu Hongkong (4th Runner Up), and Pangkat Guardians (5th Runner-Up).
“I’m overjoyed because all the hardships and sacrifices just to come up with our dance performance paid off,” remarked the head choreographer of Bisdak Macau, Rolly Pobre Gatchalian, Florist 1 in Sands Cotai Central.
The Queen of Sinulog 2019, Gizela Valerie Cuevas Sanchez, annually celebrates this festival with her family as a tribute to her late grandfather, Pedrito Cuevas, who was the original Sinulog drummer in Macau. “It is an honor and a privilege to be the Queen of Sinulog. It was a challenging experience for me and my partner because we were asked to do shoulder lifts which we have never done before, trained for weeks, and even got minor injuries, but we kept pushing through until we pulled it off,” said the Wynn Palace Cable Car Operator.
Similarly, The Venetian Macau Senior Technician Neil Cuevas Salinas is not new to Sinulog. “I started as a young boy, who played with the Drum Group organized by my grandfather. Now, I am leading it for almost 15 years. The most challenging part is recruiting drummers because we have to parade while carrying our kits and playing beats, not to mention the hot weather, and sometimes, the sudden breaking of our sticks and drum straps. Every year, we prepare physically and mentally,” he said.
It is the third time for 12 year-old Lara Ann Gonzales to join the children’s category of the dance competition. “I always pray to Santo Niño and I could feel that when I dance I do not feel shy anymore. I am proud to share the Sinulog tradition to the whole world,” she said.
Queen City of the South – Cebu Hong Kong group member Lucilla Molina attested, “Santo Niño is powerful and I feel He greatly blesses me because I could easily find a job and I have kind employers. Even if my costume is heavy, I am happy and proud to play the role of the queen. I have done it for five years in Macau and three years in Hong Kong.”
Filipinos in Macau who are Santo Niño devotees started to officially celebrate the feast in 2001 and launched the Sinulog dance competition in 2003.
“The Santo Niño is a gift of God to us Filipinos that we may also experience the joy of the Child Jesus. We thank God for bringing this tradition to Macau to nourish our faith in God,” said Rev Fr Alejandre Vergara, SOLT.
Philippine Consul General Lilybeth Deapera remarked, “I hope that the celebration will continue to reflect who we are, that we will continue to show what the Filipino is made of – resilient, hardworking, and very good, that we should not have a disconnection of what we believe in and the day to day activities that we perform.”
Sinulog showcases not just the colorful past of Cebuano tradition but also the rich Filipino culture and heritage.
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