CEBU CITY—Organizers kicked off the 2017 Sinulog Festival, one of the country’s biggest tourist drawers, with a Mass and a parade here Friday afternoon.
Held at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, the Mass preceded a parade with dancing contingents from 14 schools in the city.
Meanwhile, the Muslim community in Cebu vowed to work closely with the Police Regional Office 7 to ensure a safe celebration of Sinulog on Sunday, Jan. 15.
Najeeb Rasul, Mufti of Cebu and Voice of Islam president, made the assurance in a meeting with police officials at the PRO 7 offices. He encouraged his fellow Muslims to set aside their differences with Cebuano Catholics and help everyone celebrate Sinulog peacefully.
“For a society to become peaceful, to become united, we need to have tolerance. We call on our brothers in Mindanao not to let violence come here. Cebu City is my city and I don’t allow them to come here,” Rasul said.
Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, PRO 7 deputy director for operations, said the cooperation of the Muslim community will assure a calm and harmonious Sinulog celebration.
But Lawas still advised residents and tourists to be extra vigilant and report anything suspicious to the nearest government office or police designated in their area.
Senior Superintendent Joel Doria, Cebu City Police Office director, said they have increased the security personnel to be deployed during the Sinulog from 5,000 to 8,000.
Doria said they will include personnel from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and force multipliers. They have also tapped the “habal-habal” or motorcycle-for-hire drivers in their security preparations.
Some 150 habal-habal drivers have been trained to detect bombs and other explosives, Doria said.
The initial Sinulog parade started from the basilica, passing through Osmeña Boulevard to the Fuente Osmeña rotunda and to the Cebu City Sports Center.
Some roads leading to Osmeña Boulevard were closed to vehicular traffic since 1 p.m., but were reopened as soon as the parade passed by.
Ricky Ballesteros, Sinulog Foundation Inc. executive director, said the opening of the Sinulog Festival went on smoothly.
The Sinulog Festival will be capped with the Sinulog Grand Parade on Jan. 15, which is expected to be watched by millions of both foreign and local spectators.
A portion of Osmeña Boulevard was also closed to vehicular traffic from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday to give way to contingents of the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan sa Sugbo (Sinulog for the Youth in Cebu Province) 2017.
The same area will be closed to vehicular traffic on Sunday for the Sinulog sa Barangay sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo (Sinulog for Cebu City Villages).
All the winners in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan sa Sugbo and the Sinulog sa Barangay sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo will qualify to join the Sinulog Grand Parade on Jan. 15.