Sinulog: Prayers through Dances
Posted by on March 20, 2007
Even before the Sinulog Festival was formally organized, the people of Cebu has were already performing a unique ritual found only in Cebu. The ritual known as Sinulog. Sinulog is teaken from the Cebuano term sulog. Meaning, the rush of the river.
Sinulog is a form of prayer dance offered to the Santo Niño. The dance is done two steps forward and one step backward. Imitating the flow of the river. While doing the ritual people of often shout “Sangpit Señor!” when asking for graces or when thanking for the blessings received. The chant however, was shortened through the years, until it simply became “Pit Señor!”
With the massive commercialization of the festival, and transforming it into a tourist spectacle, rather than a simple prayer ritual, the number of people performing the Sinulog ritual has dwindled. There are just a few Sinulog prayer dancers left in the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño performing this ritual.
Steps should be done by the Diocese of Cebu so that this unique prayer tradition will continue. It is a bit sad to see that while the festival is growing rapidly, the Sinulog prayer dancers can no longer be found in the churchyards of Cebu.
