Light to moderate rains on Sunday morning will mean a wet start for the Sinulog grand parade at 9 a.m.
For the rest of the day, an overcast sky will shield Sinulog dancers, floats and crowds of spectators from the sun.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak gave the weather outlook in a final briefing of representatives of contingents participating in the Sinulog Festival at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
But forecasts can change, so he advised participating dancers, propsmen, musicians and support personnel to be conditioned for tomorrow’s grand parade.
A total of 43 contingents are competing in the Sinulog dance showdown – 20 for the Sinulog-based category and 23 for Free Interpretation.
Other entries – floats, higantes and puppeteers – are also joining the parade.
A new guideline in this year’s Sinulog allows electronic musical instruments – guitars, keyboards, drum sets in their presentations.
Dance contingents should forego rehearsals today and just rest, so they have enough energy to dance through the whole 6.1-kilometer carousel parade route, said Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI).
He reminded choreographers to watch the health levels of their wards.
“Don’t sacrifice the safety of the dancers for artistry. Let the kids wear slippers when they perform,” said Ballesteros told.
While going barefoot to depict a farming scene may be more authentic, he said the stage can get very hot under the noonday sun and hurt the feet of dancers who aren’t wearing slippers or footwear.
All listed participants are insured against accidents by Malayan Insurance, which extends coverage of up to P60,000 per person.
By 5 a.m. Sunday, all contingents should be in their designated spot in the parade route.
The parade starts at 9 a.m. after an 8 a.m. Holy Mass at the sports complex.
Each contingent is assigned one support vehicle, one ambulance and volunteers with radio sets in case of an emergency.
Tinago barangay captain Joel Garganera, who heads the crowd control committee, said large “pedestrian crossing” signs for exits and entrances will be placed at 24 intersections of the parade route. This will guide people on where to cross the streets with less hindrance during the parade.
He encouraged contingents not to allow the crowd to mob the dancers. They should mark out their performing area with crowd control ropes.
Revelers who have drunk too much alcohol will be detained in Kaohsiung buses until they are sober. Police police and barangay tanods will round them up to prevent riots and street brawls, said Ballesteros.
After the parade is over, a massive cleanup will follow because they aim for a “zero-waste Sinulog” this year with the help of Let’s Do it Philippines, a nongovernment organization.
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