Bohol celebrates 2013 Sandugo Festival

Welcome to Bohol and welcome to Sandugo Festival!

Photo grabbed from Soc Garcia

Sandugo (Blood Compact) Festival is a commemoration of the friendship between chieftain Sikatuna of Bohol and conquistador Miguel Lopes de Legazpi of Spain. Both agreed to shed blood on a cup of wine and drank them to forge that friendship. This historic event made Tagbilaran City the City of Friendship.

To commemorate that event, the province celebrated Sandugo Festival, a month-long festivities of culture, heritage and arts. Sandugo started on July 1, also the Charter Day of Tagbilaran City. Main events, however, are celebrated after the Charter Day celebrations of the province of Bohol on the 22nd of July.

If you are interested to come and join in the celebrations, here are the program of activities for the 2013 Sandugo Festival.

July 1

47th Tagbilaran City Charter Day. Expect parades and musical events on this day.

July 1-31

Nightly activities at the City port with different nightly sponsors. Usually bands and cultural presentations.

July 13

Miss Bohol Sandugo 2013 Swimsuit Competition

July 17

Miss Bohol Sandugo 2013 Talent Competition

July 20

Miss Bohol Sandugo Pageant and Coronation Night

July 22

Bohol Day Celebrations (159th Charter Day of the province)

July 24-28

Sandugo Trade Expo 2013 at ICM's The Block. This year's them is Go Green, Buy Local. The Sandugo Trade Expo will feature locally made products focusing on heritage, culture and environment protection by using eco-friendly and indigenous materials. Surely, you will love to go shopping for furnishings, fashion accessories as well as fresh and processed food. 

July 26

Sandugo 2013 Street Party at Tagbilaran's main street CPG Avenue. This is going to be the fun part of the Sandugo Festival. The Bohol Sounddugo Street Party boasts of the biggest, baddest and loudest sound system, perhaps, a first in Bohol party scenes. I am sure you won't want to be left out.

July 28

Sandugo 2013 Streetdancing Competition. I hope there's going to be a big bunch of competitors this year. Last year was quite a disappointment among photo enthusiasts who came in to join the street dancing photo competition.

Don't forget to wear a smile. Boholanos are known to be hospitable and may welcome you to their homes. But be careful and be wary of scammers and other bad elements. Tagbilaran is recently experiencing major crimes done even in broad daylight and the police seems not able to solve them.

Sinulog 2012 Schedule of Activities

Photo by Mikhail Arrogante, 2011 Grand Prize Winner
Photo courtesy of Sinulog Foundation Inc.

In a wink of an eye, Sinulog will be happening in Cebu City, the biggest happening in the south of the Philippines. If you are planning to visit and be part of the celebrations, I think you need to adjust your schedules because the Sinulog is happening earlier this year.

To update you of the events, I am posting here the schedule. Enjoy. And Pit Senyor!

December 1, 2011 – January 31, 2012   Sinulog Street Fair, Osmeña Boulevard

December 11, 2011   2nd Sinulog Cup Baseball Tournament c/o Cebu City Sports Commission

December 16, 2011   Launching and Sinulog Photo Exhibits @SM City

December 12, 2011   Sinulog on the Spot Painting Contest @ Fort San Pedro

December 17, 2011   Sinulog Poster Making Contest @ Emall

December 18, 2011   Sinulog Best Dance Crew Elimination, Sinulog Musicfest Elimination

December 30, 2011   Sinulog 2012 Fun Run

January 05, 2012 (Thursday)   Opening Salvo: Walk with Jesus   

4:00 AM   Assembly Time (Area) Fuente Osmeña

4:30 AM   Start of Walk-Fuente Osmeña Blvd. – Basilica del Sto. Niño

5:30 AM   Installation of Hermano & Hermana Mayores 2012

January 06, 2012 (Friday)   Sinulog 2012 Kick Off

2:00PM      Solemn Mass (Basilica del Sto. Niño) sponsored by the Sinulog Foundation Inc . and Cebu City Government

3:00 PM     Launching Parade (Basilica del Sto. Niño to Cebu City Sports Center)

7:00 PM    Opening and Launching Program, Fuente Osmeña

7:30 PM    Ms. Cebu 2012 Presentation

9 :00 PM    Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

10:00 PM    Street Party Bands

January 07, 2012 (Saturday)   Sinulog sa Kabataan – Lalawigan

8:00 AM    2nd SINULOG FOOTBALL CUP c/o Cebu City Sports Commission

1:00 PM    Parade of Participants, Capitol Site to Cebu City Sports Center

2:00 PM    Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, Cebu City Sports Center

4:30 PM    Awarding of Winners

6:30 PM    Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) Department of Education, Cebu Province Division           

8:00 PM    Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM    Concert @ the Fuente Osmeña , Street Party Bands

January 08, 2012 (Sunday)   Sinulog sa Kabataan- Dakbayan

4:00 AM   Cebu City 2012 Marathon – www.cebumarathon.com

8:00 AM   2nd SINULOG FOOTBALL CUP c/o Cebu City Sports Commission

1:00 PM   Parade of Participants, Plaza Independencia to Cebu City Sports Center

2:00 PM   Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan, Cebu City Sports Center

4:30 PM   Awarding of Winners

6:30 PM   Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) University of San Carlos

8:00 PM   Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM   Concert @ the Fuente O, Street Party Bands

January 09, 2012 (Monday)

6:30 PM   Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) University of Southern Philippines Foundation, Cebu Institute of Technology University, St. Paul’s College Foundation

8:00 PM   Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM   Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 10, 2012 (Tuesday)

6:30 PM   Cultural show (Fuente Osmeña) University of Cebu

8:00 PM   Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM   Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 11, 2012 (Wednesday)

9:00 AM   Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)

6:30 PM   Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) Department of Education, Cebu City Division

7:00 PM   Ms. Cebu 2012 Coronation Night, Cebu City Waterfront Lahug Hotel

8:00 PM   Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM   Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 11-22, 2012   Sinulog Fiesta “OTOP Fair 2012” Atrium A & B, SM City Cebu; organized by Department of Trade & Industry -Cebu

January 12, 2012 (Thursday)

9:00 AM   Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)

6:30 PM   Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) Salazar Colleges of Science Institute of Technology, Cebu Normal University, Asian College of Technology

6:00 PM   Balik Cebu, Welcome Party @ Ayala Center Cebu

10:00 PM   Sinulog Festival Queen 2012 Photo Shoot

6:00 PM   Runway Competition @SM  City North Wing

8:00 PM   Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

8:00 PM   Handumanan @ Ayala Terraces

9:00 PM   Concert @ the Fuente Osmeña , Street Party Bands

January 13, 2012 (Friday)   Visual Merchandising Contest (Department Stores and Malls)

4:00 AM   Walk with Mary (Area) Fuente Osmeña-Sto. Niño

9:00 AM   Solidarity Meeting (All Competing Contingent/Floats/Higante/Puppteeters, Cebu City Sports Center Gym

5:00 PM   Sinulog Best Dance Crew Grand Finals

6:00 PM   Sinulog Musicfest Band Competition Grand Finals

6:30 PM   Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) University of San Jose Recoletos, Southwestern University, Cebu Technological University

7:30 P.M   Cebu Popular Music Festival, Cebu Coliseum

7:30 P.M   Sinulog Festival Queen 2012, Cebu City Sports Center

8:00 PM   Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM   Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 13-15, 2012

9:00 AM   Devotees’ City organized by Cebu City Government

January 14, 2012 (Saturday)

6:00 AM   Fluvial Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño

9:00 AM   Re-enactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon, Basilica del Sto. Niño

12:00 NN   8TH “THE STREET VIBRATION & BIG BIKE RALLY 2012, by V-max Owner’s Group, Inc. Cebu Chapter

2:00 PM   Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño

7:00 PM   Sinulog Fireworks Competition @ SM City Cebu

7:00 PM   Street party @ Fuente Osmeña and Plaza Independencia

8:00 PM   Kasadya Nite Mardi Gras @ Ayala Center Cebu

January 15, 2012 (Sunday)   SINULOG GRAND PARADE

4:00 AM   Mañanita Mass @Basilica del Sto. Niño

6:00 AM   Pontifical mass with His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal

9:00 AM   Sinulog Grand Parade Carousel Kick Off

7:00 PM   Grand Finale and Fireworks, Cebu City Sports Center

7:30 PM   Street Party Bands, Fuente Osmeña

January 16, 2012 (Monday)

1:00 PM   Awarding Ceremonies, Cebu City Sports Center

January 20, 2012 (Friday)   “HUBO”

4:00 AM   “HUBO Mass” Ritual @ Basilica del Sto. Niño

January 21-22, 2012   CEBU CHESS FESTIVAL - “WORLD’S LARGEST CHESS TOURNAMENT” @ the Cebu City Sports Center

January 28, 2012 (Saturday)

1:00 P.M   Screening of Finalists Short Film/Video Documentary Contest

1:30 P.M   Sinulog 2012 Winning Photo Exhibits

6:00 P.M   Awarding Ceremonies Photo Contest and Video Documentary Contest @SM City Cebu   

   

January 28 – Feb. 10, 2012   Photo Exhibits “Winning Photos Sinulog ’12 @SM City Cebu.

PIT SENYOR!

Breeding and Professionalism Matters

Remember Jerome Sala? That young man from the province of Bohol who bested others in ABS-CBN's Star in a Million 2005 show?

Well- he got married and started a hollow blocks business in his hometown of Pilar in Bohol. Management problems, I heard, had him with no projects despite winning that prestigious show.

And he did it again!

No, he did not win anything but I heard from the grapevine that Jerome Sala Ucab is banned from performing anywhere in Tagbilaran City and worst in the whole province of Bohol due to a conflict with Mayor Dan Lim and Governor Erico Aumentado. Sources say that Mr Ucab was requested to act and sing in the Dagohoy Musical to recap the Sandugo festivities on July 26 (Sunday) but he turned down the offer due to management (again!) and money matters. Chismosos and chismosas who heard the angry call of Mayor Lim was happily shocked with the words the famous mayor is known for.

Such a waste of talent! Mr Ucab should not let that Star in a Million win bloat his ego and become his waterloo. Fans of Mr Ucab should defend him now and perhaps explain his side.

Meanwhile, Cesar Montano and his wife Sunshine Cruz, who were asked to act on that same musical readly accepted their roles. Montano, who proudly wears his Boholano heritage everywhere, is proud to be part of that musical and is rehearsing his role when I wrote this.

This goes to show how breeding and professionalism affects a person.

(All pics from wikipedia.com)

Durian Fest at SM Cebu

The durian fest at SM City Cebu has been there for a week I think and I have been charmed by its smell since the time they set-up their booths. My only problem was I don't have someone to share with my delight.

This afternoon, I had my full share of durian at long last! Full because Mon and I finished the whole fruit without batting an eyelash.

It is amusing seeing those with anti-durian sentiments as they pass through us. They have to cover their noses because of the "smell." If I know they were just having a hard time salivating at the sight of durian lovers licking clean the fruits down to its seeds.

A nice ice-cold Coca-Cola goes well with it and makes burping deliciously sinful.

I will be back!