CEBU CITY – Stricter rules will be enforced in next year’s Sinulog, one of the country’s grandest cultural festivals.
The Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) said that unlike in previous editions in which the festival lasted until the wee hours of the night, the Sinulog 2026 is being targeted to end by 7 p.m.
To achieve this, contingents must arrive on time for the grand parade.
Contingents will be required to arrive in their designated pre-positioned areas at 7 a.m. Those who will arrive beyond 7 a.m. will no longer be allowed to participate, the SFI announced on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
Street dancing will follow the same route as last year with the grand ritual showdown happening at the Cebu City Sports Center.
At least 37 contingents have signed for next year’s festival.
The SFI is banning the use of lights and illuminated props during performances to avoid giving undue advantage to contingents performing at night while also ensuring that performances will focus on religious devotion and traditional presentation.
Organizers said that no cellphone signal shutdown will be enforced in the entire duration of the festival.
City officials said preparations for the Jan. 18 festival are 60 percent complete.
Marketing and additional funding are some of the major concerns that are still being worked on as well as the mounting of additional mobile bleachers on the parade route.