Cloudy skies and strong winds marked the opening of the Sinulog Grand Parade, where thousands of revelers awaited the arrival of the contingents at the the Cebu City Sports Center.
Some laid mats for a picnic on the sidewalks along the parade route where the contingents, floats and puppets pass through before their final presentation at the sports center.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama declared the start of the festival shortly after a Mass at the Basilica. Present during the declaration were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa panginoon na naka sama ko kayo sa inyong selebrasyon (I thank God that I join you in your celebration). My family joins me in greeting you Pit Senyor,” Binay told the crowd in a brief message.
Thousands of revelers filled the grandstand of the Cebu City Sports Center as early as 8 a.m. (CDN PHOTO/ MARIAN Z. CODILLA)
The Cebu City government contingent came in first to dance Sinulog at the grandstand.
Cebu city government contingent
Their float has an image of the Señor Sto. Nino with life size pictures of super heroes at the back.
The first batch of puppets danced on stage. A resident of barangay Labangon made a contraption consisting of life size construction worker puppets attached to his front and back that dance as he moves.
Outside the grandstand, revelers watched the street dancing while some floats threw candies to people lined along Osmeña boulevard.