INQUIRER Global Nation

Cebu as a “festival island” will be the theme of today’s opening parade and program of the Sinulog Festival.

A Mass at 2 p.m. in the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño sponsored by the Sinulog Foundation Inc. will kick off the day’s activity with Acting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama as overall chairman.

Students from 12 schools in Cebu City will dance from the basilica to the Fuente Osmeña, showcasing festival dances of 12 towns and cities following the Sinulog beat.

“We will showcase the more established festivals in Cebu province to give them a chance to shine,” said Sinulog project director Dolores Suzara.

“These dances will also blend with this year’s Sinulog (overall) theme, which is Polynesian.”

Philippine festivals were featured in the Sinulog opening program in 2006. Today, Cebu province fiestas will get the limelight.

The 5 p.m. opening program will be followed by a fireworks display and the presentation of Miss Cebu 2009 candidates.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia is scheduled to attending the Mass, her second time to do so since 2006 when she was with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Dancers from the University of San Carlos will take the lead in the street parade.

REROUTING

Traffic is expected to be tied up in roads leading to Osmeña Boulevard for the parade.

A section of the Boulevard between Fuente Osmeña and the Basilica will be closed to traffic starting 2 p.m. today.

Motorists will be rerouted to parallel roads such as V. Rama Avenue and F. Ramos Street until the parade is over.