CEBU CITY – An estimated three million people attended the Sinulog Festival at the South Road Properties (SRP) here on Sunday, January 21.

THE Sinulog Festival in Cebu City was generally peaceful, police said. (Juan Carlo de Vela)

Police Col. Ireneo Dalogdog, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, said the crowd at the SRP started to swell at around 4 p.m.

“At around 1 p.m., thousands of revelers were already here but around 4 p.m. when it was no longer that hot, the crowd really started to swell,” said Dalogdog.

Dalogdog said the crowd estimate did not include those that gathered in the uptown area.

Security was focused on SRP where the street dancing and grand showdown were held. But when revelers started flocking to Juana Osmeña, a known place for Sinulog revelries, the CCPO immediately sent at least 1,500 policemen to the area, said Dalogdog.

Unlike in previous Sinulog, Dalogdog said there were no reports of pickpocket incidents as thousands of policemen were deployed in various areas at SRP.

“What we received were reports of missing children but they eventually reunited with their parents,” said Dalogdog.

In Barangay San Roque here, two students were arrested after they were caught flashing the “dirty finger” while posing for a photo with a group of policemen behind them.

Mario Allan Gabato and Philip Kristoffer Beduya apologized to the police after the incident. They said the dirty finger sign was not for the police but for their friends whom they waited to arrive in the area.

“Nasobraan ra jud mi sa kiat (We celebrated too much),” said Gabato.

Another man, John Lloyd, was arrested after he kissed some women while partying on B. Rodriguez St. at past midnight on Monday, January 22.

He was injured after he was mauled by the boyfriend of the woman that he kissed.

Police Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, chief of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7), said the celebration of Sinulog was generally peaceful.

Aberin led ground and aerial inspections while the festival was ongoing.

He said they did not receive reports of major incidents that disrupted the festivity.

“We would like to commend the members of the police for a job well done,” said Aberin.

Amid the scorching heat, at least 21 dancing contingents performed at SRP in honor of Señor Santo Niño.

This year was the second straight year that the Sinulog was held at SRP. The Cebu City Sports Center was the traditional venue of the festival before it was moved to SRP last year.

“My dear Sinulog aficionados, my dear devotees of Santo Niño, I have said it and I will say it again and again, this is for Señor Santo Niño. Each one of us has a story to tell about the miracles, today is a miracle, yesterday is a miracle. Days before is a continuing miracle. So, ladies and gentlemen, let’s pray for a continuous miracle,” Mayor Michael Rama here told the audience that gathered in a makeshift bleacher for the grand ritual showdown.

Aside from dancing contingents, the crowd was also entertained by 50 colorful floats, 12 “higantes” or giants, and nine puppeteers.

The Banauan Cultural Group of Barangay Guadalupe here was crowned champion in the Sinulog-based ritual showdown, while the Pasayaw Festival of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental topped the free interpretation ritual showdown.

The multi-titled Lumad Basakanon of Barangay San Nicolas, this city, ruled the street dancing competition.