2021 Sinulog: The sacred and the secular within the pandemic

Prayers were lifted. Statements were issued from the police, government officials, the medical community, among others. All expressed their objection to the holding of 2021 Sinulog with the COVID pandemic.

Gratefully, Vice Mayor Rama, touched by prayers to Señor Sto. Nino and heeding the requests and suggestions of city government officials and other frontliners announced last Thursday morning the cancellation of the secular activities for Sinulog 2021. Citing the safety of people as the city government’s priority, the ritual showdown and street dancing were cancelled but would instead push through virtually.

Cebu’s Sinulog draws both those who come to celebrate the sacred feast of the Sto. Nino and those who come for the secular revelry, street dancing and performances. Within the present pandemic, having millions of these visitors and devotees converge and crowd the streets, malls, and churches poses extreme risk and high certainty for the rapid spread of COVID-19.

Even before this year’s Sinulog and soon after the Christmas and New Year holidays and festivities, COVID cases in Cebu City rose to double digits.

Thank God, government as well as Church officials chose to prioritize everyone’s health through the cautious avoidance of certain mass gatherings.

The following religious activities have been cancelled; the penitential walk with Jesus on the opening salvo, the penitential walk with Mary on the last day of the Novena, the traslacion of the images of the Sto. Niño and our Lady of Guadalupe, the fluvial procession and the reenactment of the first Baptism, planting of the cross, and first wedding, the solemn foot procession, and the proposed Cebu provincial pilgrimages.

However, the Novena masses will proceed as scheduled and will draw huge crowds. Let us pray that government and church authorities will implement an effective protective system of ensuring health protocols inside and outside the Basilica, at transport stops, at nearby shops, and other contiguous areas.

Hopefully, well-trained task force and response teams enforcing the health protocols are present where the public will congregate. We hope the authorities will require the public to strictly wear face masks and shields, follow proper physical distancing in and out of the Basilica, inside public vehicles, and in other public areas where vendors and shops are.

Post-Sinulog data will confirm whether the sincere effort of church, lay officials and the public to balance and temper the secular and sacred activities for this year’s Sinulog will be successful in containing the virus. We sincerely pray so.

Let us also join hands in praying that all of us “keep the Holy Child in our hearts and ask for his everlasting compassion as we heal as one.”

Within the continuing pandemic, let us add to our prayers, for ourselves and our family, relatives, and friends, the fervent plea for our Sto. Niño to banish COVID from our midst and throughout the world, for God’s grace for everyone’s continued protection and good health, and thanksgiving for all frontliners who selflessly offer their service and commitment to take care of the needy.

Let us together pray as well for God to deal, justly and swiftly, with the selfish and the abusive, those who are extremely power-hungry who want to extend their terms to serve themselves, rather than our people, those who want their own interpretation of their laws to be followed, rather than the Constitution.

Let us lift up our joint prayers for God’s servants to govern, and for peace, for God’s peace to be with everyone, in our country, in America, and all nations throughout the world.