Amidst bad weather: World Tent City opens at SRP

CEBU, Philippines — The World Tent City (WTC) at the South Road Properties (SRP) will open today, as scheduled.

This was disclosed by the Sinulog Foundation, Incorporated officials during a press conference yesterday.

Hotels, resorts, and even some mall operators have signified to take part in this project.

Amidst the bad weather conditions, workers from the exhibitors, along with the city government, were working overtime to put up the tents.

The WTC is laid out just across the amphitheater so that hotel guests and the rest of the spectators can relax and enjoy, aside from the Sinulog showdown itself.

Foods and other products are also expected to be displayed and sold in the area.

Earlier, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama also encouraged the rest of the Cebuanos to put up their own tents in the area for better shelter and have an area for family and friends to meet and celebrate in honor of Sr. Sto. Nino.

Rama takes the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig as one of its inspirations for this concept.

Sinulog sa Airport

Meanwhile, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is bringing back its festivities for the 5th “Sinulog sa Airport” which started last Tuesday to formally welcome the locals, tourists, and balikbayans who are visiting Cebu for the Sinulog festival.

This year, the MCIA brought the Sinug Cultural Performance together with Casa Gorordo Museum last January 10 at the T1 Grand Lobby Departures Lobby.

Sinug is the traditional prayer-dance offered to Sto. Niño, the Holy Child Jesus, started way back between the 1940s and 1950s by Estelita “Nang Titang” Diola in Cebu.

As part of its tradition, the MCIA continues its participation in the Balik Cebu Balikbayan Welcome activity in partnership with the Balik Cebu Committee, Cebu City Government, and various tourism stakeholders.

The Balik Cebu event is a Sinulog tradition that welcomes balikbayans or Filipinos coming home for the Sinulog Festival. The airport welcome activity will consist of rondalla serenade and a traditional Sinulog dance.

Aside from the Sinug performance, the MCIA is also bringing the Sinulog Dance performance by the Mandaue City School for the Arts Dance Troupe and giving Sinulog kits to arriving passengers, tourists, and balikbayans starting today.

The kits contain a Sinulog headdress, bottle of water, wet wipes, alcohol, hand towel, and a Sinulog 2023 festival guide brochure containing the festival map, schedule of activities, and information on activities through the Viber Philippines’ Asa Ta Bai Channel.

Tetta Baad, Balik Cebu committee chairperson, had said that the committee will be hosting a free Filipino buffet dinner for at least 300 balikbayans at Ayala Terraces today.

The balikbayans will be treated to a fiesta dinner and some musical performances showcasing Cebu’s talents and various festival performances.

Balik Cebu is a program of the Cebu provincial government and the Cebu City government and in coordination with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) and other tourism stakeholders.

The Balik Cebu program started in 2000 but only stopped for two years (2020 and 2021) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The initiative is aimed at promoting tourism in Cebu.  — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, GAN (FREEMAN)