Most peaceful yet

I stayed at the Cebu City Sports Center for the whole duration of the Sinulog. Cramped inside a small van, I was calling the shots on our video coverage of the performances. The program was quite dragging, I could say. The whole grand parade was delayed for about an hour and the transition from one performance to the next took time. With a quick look at the gates, I noticed that the police were holding those who were supposed to go next in the parade so that the one that just went inside would have ample time to move, something wise to do.

Despite taking time, I feel like this was the most peaceful Sinulog yet. Delays and glitches are normal. It is better to be safe than sorry. The police used all their authority to control the crowd that was already turning rowdy. There were enough people to man the human barricade. Plus, who would have thought that the police would do an actual round up of those who went against the liquor ban? I tell you, they mean serious business.

I guess that it's about time we seriously enforce the ordinances that the city has legislated and the executive orders that the mayor has put out. If we don't obey the law, then having a fun but senseless Sinulog is actually of no use. Unlike the previous years, there are now children out in the streets enjoying the parade because it is safe for them to be there. There are different sights and sounds that the Sinulog had to offer; I'm proud to say that it has showcased the grandeur of Cebu.

However, there are still teenagers who partied like there was no tomorrow. Although they were far from the route, they were still wild and in some sort of a different dimension without parental supervision. An online post has been circulated on the suspected use of party drugs. I hope the authorities have been tracking this down. How can we refer to the Sinulog as a grand festival, when some people can still get away with these kinds of incidents? Keeping it on a low key should have been the best way to avoid it.

The next problem to face is the trash. About 230 tons of trash was collected by the city government. Where does this go? Of course, plastic won't degrade by itself. Let's hope they end up in recycling facilities to be put to good use. If they end up in the dump site, then it would pile up or worst, clog our drainage systems which would result in more floods in the metro when it rains.

I'd like to have another taste of this kind of Sinulog in the following years to come. There's no use complaining and comparing it to previous years. There is room for improvement to be better. Congratulations to all who have made this year’s Sinulog a good one. Congratulations, Cebu!