Local Filipino community to host Sinulog Festival on Sunday

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Fort St. John’s Filipino community is inviting the public to its Sinulog Festival, which is set to take place on Sunday.

Sinulog Festival celebrates the story of the city of Cebu, which was liberated by Ferdinand Magellan for the Kingdom of Spain in 1521. 

As an offering, he presented an image of the baby Jesus, known in the Philippines as Santa Niño, to Rajah Humadon, who was the king of Cebu.

The Sinulog festival is the most important date on the calendar for the Filipino community.

“It is a celebration that is done in dance,” said Grace Paracuallaso, one of the local event’s organizers. “It is of the Philippians’ people’s pagan past and their acceptance of Christianity.”

The annual event has taken place in Fort St. John since 2015.

The event draws big crowds in the city of Cebu in the Philippines’, where crowds reach between 1 and 1.5 million attendees annually.

During Sunday afternoon’s mass at the Catholic Church of Resurrection, images of the child Jesus will be offered during mass for the priest to bless. 

After the mass, the crown image of Jesus will be presented to the priest, by mayor Lilia Hansen.  The presentation  will be followed by the Song of the Doses, a song of thanksgiving sung during the celebration.

The celebration will continue to the Immaculate Hall, where there will be a presentation of flowers and more dances.

This year’s Sinulog Festival will conclude with dinner and refreshments for attendees. 

The free event is slated for 3 p.m. at the Catholic Church of Resurrection.