While the merrymaking and parades are separate from the religious feast of the Sto. Niño, it draws from the same devotion.
The Sinulog will start with a 2 p.m. solemn mass at the Pilgrim Center of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino where Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will officially declare the festival open.
A launch parade will follow from the basilica to the Cebu City Sports Complex.
“We are ready for the launching parade, rain or shine,” said Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI).
Twenty schools, colleges and universities will be joining the parade together with Cebu City officials, candidates of Miss Cebu 2015 and the reigning Sinulog Festival Queen, Christine Jael Abellanosa of Tuburan, Cebu.
REROUTING
Starting 2p.m. traffic along Osmena Boulevard, the main parade route, will be re-routed by the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom).
The parade will start from the Basilica and proceed to the Fuente Osmena rotunda, the turn around and head to the sports complex.
“If we see that it won’t be causing traffic, we will open a specific intersection. We will also immediately open each are after the tail of the parade passes through already,” said Citom operations chief Joy Tumulak./Reporter Jose Santino S. Bunachita