Pit Senjor ! Viva Santo Nino !

The third week of January is the Sinulog Festival in Cebu.  

This year our Provincical Governor in Agusan del Sur, Governor ”Eddiebong” Plaza, took a group of about 65 staff and politicians to Cebu for the festival.  

It is a major event in the southern Philippines, and involves lots of street dancing, elaborate costumes, and basically having fun ! 

Amongst those invited to attend were the six VSO volunteers working in the province. 

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The festival revolves around a statue of the “Santo Nino” which was brought to the Philippines by the Spanish Queen early in the time of the Spanish colonisation. 

The statue is still held in a church in Cebu, and is much revered.  One a year it forms the centrepiece of a big parade at the Sinulog Festival.

There are a huge number of different performers, and the Festival lasts for about a week. 

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The climax of the celebrations happens on the Sunday, when there are river parades, a large open-air Mass, and the street processions of dancers.

In the Philippines you’re never too young to enjoy a fiesta ! While the woman on the left holds up the Santo Nino (Holy Child) statue, the man on the right carries a real baby ! 

Most of the dance groups carry a copy of the Santo Nino statue - which is wearing a crown and a wide red cape – and everywhere there are signs saying “Viva Santo Nino!”, and “Pit Senjor!”  The Santo Nino is commonly referred to as “Senjor”, and apparently “Pit Senjor” means something like “invoke the Senjor Santo Nino”.

 

Its a great festival.  Certainly worth seeing if you are in the Philippines in the month of January.