Cebuanos kick off week-long Sinulog Festival

Cebuanos started the week-long Sinulog Festival last Thursday with close to 40,000 devotees joining the penitential “Walk with Jesus,” Unang Balita reported Friday.

A stretch of Osmeña Boulevard from the Fuente Osmeña Circle burst into candlelight as devotees walked to the Basilica del Sto. Niño in Cebu City where the first Novena Mass was held in the run up to Sinulog Day on Sunday that will be highlighted by the annual Grand Parade.

Starting Thursday, the basilica will be open for 24 hours for visiting tourists and devotees.

Sinulog is a festival in honor of the city's Patron Santo Niño (child Jesus). It is an annual cultural and religious festival held every 3rd Sunday of January in Cebu City, who prides itself as the center of the Sto. Niño devotion in the country. —Erwin Colcol/LBG, GMA News