Sinulog in Barcelona: tradition and spirituality of the Filipino Catholic community | Old City

What is Sinulog?

Sinulog is a Catholic holiday that has its origin in the adoration of the Santo Niño, patron saint of the city of Cebu, in the Philippines.. It is a figure of the Child Jesus considered miraculous. According to tradition, the image of the Santo Niño was a gift What did the explorer do? Ferdinand Magellan to the king of the island, Rajah Humabon (baptized as Carlos) and Queen Hara Jumamay (baptized as Juana), when she arrived in the Philippines in 1521 representing the Spanish Crown. It is said that Magellan gave the figure to the queen when she was baptized, and that she danced with joy when receiving it.

Every year during third sunday in january Hundreds of thousands of people flock to Cebu to celebrate Sinulog. The festival is known mainly for its procession and the exuberant dances that accompany her. It is a characteristic ritual dance that recalls the dance of joy of Queen Jumamay. The epicenter of the celebration is the basilica of the Santo Niñobuilt in the same place where the image of the Santo Niño was found again in 1565. Thus, the festival commemorates the arrival of the Catholic faith to the islands during the 16th century and the conversion to Catholicism by the Filipino peoplewhich began on the island of Cebu. In addition, the Sinulog also has a important cultural aspectwith the representation of costumes and dances from various areas of the country, parades and the organization of competitions.

The Sinulog in Barcelona

Sinulog processions are celebrated in various locations in the Philippines and also in many other places around the world. In Barcelona, It has been commemorated since the nineties. Filipino children and young people are in charge of organizing the celebration, which consists of a dramatization of the story of the Santo Niño and the transmission of the Christian faith, ritual dances and a mass in honor of the Child Jesus.

The Filipino Catholic community in Barcelona

The Filipino presence in Barcelona is related to the Spanish colonial past on the islands and increased since the 1970s. Those who are of the Catholic religion, who are a good part of this community, gather around the parish of the Immaculate Conception and Sant Lorenzo Ruizlocated in the Plaza de Sant Agustí, where they are usually held masses in Spanish, Tagalog and English.

When and where?

• Sunday, January 19. Parish of the Immaculate Conception and Sant Lorenzo Ruiz, Plaza de Sant Agustí
  • 4:30 p.m.: traditional dances and performances, in the Plaza de Sant Agustí
  • 5:50 p.m.: procession in the church and entry of the image of the Santo Niño
  • 6:00 p.m.: mass in the parish of the Immaculate Conception and Sant Lorenzo Ruiz

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE SINULOG EXPLANATORY BROCHURE HERE (Catalan).

WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE SINULOG CELEBRATION HERE.

WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE CONVERSATION “Celebration ritual of the Filipino diaspora in Barcelona” HERE.

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