Pure Evil Torture

When visiting the Philippines, one of the need-to-go-to places are those that are celebrating a festival or fiesta.

One particular major fiesta is the SINULOG FESTIVAL celebrated in Cebu City every 3rd Sunday of January.

This is supposed to be a one day celebration but as usual, Filipinos have the habit of either extending or starting a particular celebration early, (example is the Christmas Season which starts on September and ends around the 2nd week of January) SINULOG is no different. 

Special sales, gigs and events start a week before the actual date of the festival. What does this mean? Nearly a week ++ 3 days of unending drinking sprees and all night events that lead to an orgasmic climax during the day of the festival itself.

Months of planning, practice and preparation has led to the different programs.

Street dancing, Creative Float Competition, Parades, Beauty Pageants and Dance Competitions fill the streets with residents, tourists and foreigners that are not disappointed by the well prepared presentations that start from dawn till sunset.

But this is just the beginning of the Sinulog experience. All the streets are closed and people are forced to walk on foot because the streets are already lined with booths, foodstands, mini concerts, and etc. 

The thing with these booths are they are put up by ordinary citizens just to add sizzle and color to already crazy festival.

They offer face painting, temporary tattoos, mini salons and nail art stations, bazaar-like stalls, paraphernalias are sold at every corner, masks , hats, fans and etc. some booths even give out free booze ! YES , that is how far people would go to celebrate this festival, they give free booze to anyone who pass their booth.

But all of these pale in comparison to the life after dark. The city takes on a different life, it transforms into a pulsating haven for everyone. Streets are turned into clubs, clubs are turned into Superclubs. Restaurants turn into jamming areas. The city takes a life of it's own, taking you into a rollercoaster of parties, events and gigs with an overflowing and overdrunk crowd that just hungers for more.

And it gets to you. For one night, you can be as crazy as you can and it still not enough to keep up with the pace of the party.

I am writing thing after 3 years of exposure to this crazed festival. Unfortunately, I am writing this at the ugly comforts of my home far far away from that haven called Cebu. 

I wont be able to attend Sinulog this year, which is why I entitled this post as pure evil torture.

The events are bigger, better and more orgasmic than ever. Yet here I am, stuck.

And all I could really do is convince you to go. Because really, your going to miss a lot in one night.