Cebu City has been placed under Blue Alert as the city ramps up preparations for Sinulog 2026.
Councilor Dave Tumulak, a member of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) executive committee, said the city is now operating in heightened readiness mode ahead of the grand celebration on January 18, 2026.
“Sa pagka karon naa nata sa 70 percent sa tanang preparation sa Sinulog this January 18, 2026. Halos nakompleto na ang preparation. Ang D-day nalang gyud ang paabuton,” Tumulak said.
He added that the remaining 30 percent of preparations focus on technical and operational details, including public amenities, crowd management, performer deployment, and final site arrangements.
Plaza Independencia and Fuente Osmeña—two of the major Sinulog activity hubs—are already being readied, with ongoing screening for performers and artists to ensure proper crowd matching and smooth traffic flow.
“Padayon pa karon ang pag-screen kung kinsang mga artists ug asa sila pwede ibutang. Dili sila pwede makapili. Tan-awon gyud nato ang crowd,” Tumulak said.
“For example, kung entertainer nga haom sa mga batan-on, ibutang sila sa lugar nga haom nila ug dili makahimo ug traffic.”
Public amenities, including portable toilets and sanitation facilities, remain part of the final preparations.
The Cebu City Council has passed a resolution urging private establishments along Sinulog and procession routes to allow public use of their comfort rooms for minimal fees.
“Ang public amenities part pa sa 30 percent. Duna tay resolution nga magpagamit ang private companies sa comfort rooms for minimum fees from P5 to P10. Likayan nato ang pataka ug pangihi,” Tumulak said.
For the street dancing competition, judging stations will be installed along the parade route, though their locations will not be publicly announced.
Bleachers will be placed along major streets to accommodate spectators, and contingents are being advised to carefully prepare for judging points, which remain a critical part of the competition.
“Sa street dancing naa gihapon tay judging stations, dili lang i-announce. Ang mga daplin sa dalan butangan ug bleachers. Part gyud na sa judging ang street dancing,” Tumulak said.
Float competitions will retain pre-judging, with on-the-day evaluations focusing on technical aspects and performance execution.
The Sinulog grand celebration on January 18 will begin with a Holy Mass from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., followed by the official opening at 9:15 a.m.
The parade will start immediately afterward, with Sector 1 departing from the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
A total of 40 contingents, including three guest performers, are confirmed to participate.
Security preparations will begin weeks ahead of the festival. A formal send-off for all security personnel is scheduled at 6 a.m. on January 5 at the CCSC, with deployment starting the same day.
The opening salvo for Sinulog 2026 is set for January 7. (LLP)
Photo by Edward Charles Tinga
