Good morning from Cebu City! Today is the big day we’ve been waiting for—Sinulog 2023. We started the morning at our hotel with a bit of a localized breakfast. They’ve changed things up since the last time we stayed here; instead of the mini-buffet, it was a set meal. Jessa had ham, rice, and eggs, while I went for the bread, jam, ham, and eggs. Liam, as always, was ready for the day’s adventures.
I spent the early morning finishing up some work, specifically editing the video from the day before, but the hotel internet was so slow I had to put off the upload until later. Once the work was out of the way, it was time to brave the festival.
Getting to the festival grounds was a bit of a mission. Because of the massive crowds and road closures, our taxi could only take us so far. We were dropped about two kilometers away and had to join the sea of people walking toward the venue. I’ll be honest: I was a bit tired before we even started, and knowing I’d be carrying Liam for most of that walk didn't help! Jessa helped out when she could, but carrying a growing boy in that heat is no joke. It was definitely a "hard day to be Aksel," but seeing the excitement on Liam’s face makes it worth it.
This year’s Sinulog felt very different from the one we attended in 2020. The location had moved, and the information we were getting was... let's just say, less than accurate. We were told the parade started at one time, but it was off. We were told the fireworks at SM Seaside were at 7:00 PM, then 9:00 PM—both times turned out to be wrong. It felt a bit disorganized compared to previous years.
Despite the confusion, the atmosphere was still incredible. We managed to find a spot to watch the parade, and the energy of the dancers and the music is always infectious. Liam was fascinated by the colors and the movement, though he did need a few breaks to relax in the shade and stay hydrated. We also ended up taking tons of photos with fans along the way! It’s always a pleasure to meet people who follow our journey, even if it makes a two-kilometer walk take a lot longer.
After the parade, we decided to find some food and a place to relax. Jessa ordered a massive set menu, and I think it’s safe to say we didn't go home hungry. We spent some time at SM Seaside waiting for fireworks that never seemed to happen when they were supposed to. Eventually, we "surrendered" and headed back toward the city to check out Mango Avenue.
By pure luck, we actually caught the fireworks from our hotel room window! Even though the windows weren't the cleanest, having a private view of the display was a perfect way to end a long, exhausting day.
Reflecting on it the next day, I have to be honest: I missed the "old" Sinulog. The move out of the city center seemed to sap some of the life and joy out of the event. In 2020, the streets felt more alive, and the organization was tighter. This year felt a bit more stressful and less "pure joy." My vote would be to bring it back to the city where it belongs!
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next one!
