Sinulog Part 2: The Parade Through Pasil

After we disembarked from our boat after the Fluvial Parade we were launched immediately into a parade through the streets of Pasil which is one of the poorer areas of Cebu, the video below hopefully gives a small taste of the joy of that procession. This local parade was something organised quite separately from the big city centre parade. It was an experience of religious celebration at its most popular level.

Last weekend Cebu was collectively celebrating in a way that we just don’t have any more in Western Europe. Virtually everyone takes part in the collective celebration, estimates went as high as 3 million on the streets. As we walked through the city people were outside on the streets, smiling widely and shouting out “Pit Senyor” (“Come Lord”) to everyone who passed by. Communities gathered together, slaughtered a pig, lit a fire and roasted it right there in the street offering food to all who passed by. Overweight women could be seen everywhere waving and dancing with Replica Santo Nino statues!