‘We are ready if Pope visits’

Sinulog organizers have plan B; Festival launch set on Friday

SINULOG Sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan 2nd place winner, APAS National High School in last year’s event perform at the Cebu City Sports Center. ( CDN FILE PHOTO)

We already have a Plan B in case the pope would change his mind and drop by Cebu.”

Ricky Ballesteros, Sinulog Foundation Inc. executive director, said that Sinulog 2015 organizers are ready if  Pope Francis, who arrives in Manila on Jan. 15,  makes a detour  and includes Cebu City in his itinerary.

In case this happens, organizers  anticipate he would  be aboard a helicopter.  The most convenient landing spot would be the South Road Properties, he said, considering the crowds attending the Sinulog parade on Jan. 19 or the Sto. Niño foot or fluvial procession the day before.

For the papal visit, Estee Marie Plunket, head of  corporate affairs of GMR, Megawide Cebu Airport Corp., said there would be no-fly zones for flights between Manila and Cebu on Jan. 15, 17 and 19 and other destinations.

To check flight schedules, log on to the website of the Mactan International Airport at www.mactancebuairport.com

On Friday, January 9, the Sinulog 2015  festivities led by the Cebu city government will be officially launched.

It starts with a solemn mass at 2 p.m. at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, followed by the traditional giving of cash gifts to candle vendors at the church.

A kick off parade by participating schools will pass Osmeña Boulevard en route to the Cebu City Sports Center.

Saturday and Sunday will be the turn of public school students in Cebu province and Cebu city who will compete for the best Sinulog dance contingent in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan  and  Sinulog Sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan at the sports center.

For the Sinulog grand parade on  Jan. 18, nine town contingents  confirmed their participation. These are Tangub City, Sultan Kudarat in North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, two from Masbate, the province of Masbate and Placer, Panglao, Bohol, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, Ormoc City, and two from Leyte, Abuyog and the first timers from Catbalogan.

For the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, nine contingents already registered while 15 contingents confirmed their participation in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan.

Ballesteros said even some of the contingents were affected by typhoon Seniang, they still pursue joining as it is their offer to Senior Sto. Niño.

One of the affected contigents was the contingent from Catbalogan, Samar where four of their dancers won’t be joining the festival anymore for they were found dead when typhoon Seniang hit their place.