With Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña looking to formally sign an executive order banning liquor within a 300-meter radius of the Sinulog Grand Parade route, scheduled for Sunday, January 21, Sinulog Executive Committee chairman, Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, noted the importance of the move.

According to the city official, the liquor ban would draw attention back to the primary reason for the annual celebration, “a dance of worship for Cebu’s Patron Senyor Santo Niño.”

The order follows an incident last year, where crowds of intoxicated revelers poured beer on those gathered and damaged vehicles. Osmeña said he hopes to “maintain order” during this year’s festivities.

However, nightly entertainment is still scheduled, beginning tomorrow, January 12, until the day of the Grand Parade. Among the events include cultural shows hosted by Department of Education-Division of Cebu Province, Cebu Technological University and Indiana Aerospace University, the University of the Visayas and the University of Cebu, Mandaue City College and Mandaue School for the Arts, the Department of Education-Division of Cebu City, the University of San Carlos, among others; Sinulog Idol 2018, which opens tomorrow and ends on January 18; the Sinulog Festival Queen, with a presentation scheduled for tomorrow and the grand coronation night on January 19; appearances by 6 Cycle Mind and Parokya ni Edgar; among other events.

In addition, the Sinulog Street Fair, which takes place along Osmeña Boulevard, has been open since December 1, 2017 and is scheduled to close on January 31./PLL, WDJ