SINULOG '15: Eat. Sleep. Pre tet tet. Team CDO reprezent

Sinulog Team CDO 2015

IT WAS MY FIRST TIME and I can't believe I waited for so long to experience one of the country's grand festivals.

So this year I've decided to reunite with my Highschool Kagay-anon friends(great people!) and go out there to see if the stories are really true.

AND THEY DIDN'T DISAPPOINT.

barkada tips: Couple of months before the festival, book a flight and hotel as early as possible to get low rates before the properties charge for Sinulog rates, which is more expensive.

Plane ticket was never a problem(personal privilege) and a good friend recommended a cheap accommodation in JL Suites which was good enough for me since, I only needed a place to sleep and take a shower.

Junquera St, Cebu City, Cebu

barkada tips: If you're planning to get wasted during the festival, I suggest that you find an accommodation nearby Fuente Osmena so you won't have a hard time getting back to bed while vomiting along the way. 

- No-brainer. 

Lifedance 2015

barkada tips: There will be lots of rave parties starting Friday night and you gotta prepare whatever party essentials you might wanna bring and it's okay to wear shirt,top tanks,shorts but not slippers, or people will step on your feet and you're not gonna like it. 

- I met the guys at their hotel wearing my party outfit for Lifedance(Which is one of the biggest and my favorite so far) and they told me to go home and change. 

Elektromundo

Couple of celebrities was spotted in this event and you need to pay for an entrance fee.

Paintensity

This one is free and a bit messier, both are sponsored by certain companies.

Team CDO, drinks are on us!

barkada tips: Buy your drinks at any convenience store and drink before going in! You know when you drink gatorade before and during a basketball game or any sports you play? Same principle.

Pre-party session

If there's a space park your car and start your session, though it's not advisable to get too drunk because you'll be needing energy for the next 5-6 hours or more of non-stop party and music.

We can even start our own party here

These events are held as far as Sugbu grounds at the south road properties(which is pretty far from Fuente Osmena) so it's gonna be a tough morning going home,(tougher when you're wasted) the demand for public transportation and taxis are very high that you really have to be creative just to get that ride going back to the city (try to test your charm to hitch a ride from trucks).

Sinulog class of 2015

Grand street parade

Pit Senyor!!

Float

Sto. Nino float

Sunday is the grand street parade main event and it's really BIG.

The festival celebration starts in the morning for as long as 9-12 hours and the main highlight of the event is the street parade.

barkada tips: Wear your most worn-out shirt or buy a cheap sinulog shirt because it's gonna get dirty out there, also, wear a heavy-duty shoes(no flip-flops for your feet's sake) and expect people to put face-paint in you, throw paint powders, beer-showers, just smile, say "Pit senyor" and enjoy the festival.

But it's still important to be aware of your surroundings because it's really crowded out there.

Network signals will be jammed so expect to have a hard time contacting anybody, or not at all.

Take care of your gadgets, we know you will bring your go pros and DSLRs

There is party everywhere, sinulog invasion for example, just buy your entrance tickets ahead of time to avoid inconvenience because once they're sold out you have to find another party but don't worry there's lots along mango square and baseline which is for free.

Stay together as much as possible, guys, keep an eye on your girl barkada members and medyo sakitin friends.

Cars and motorbikes will be having a hard time to pass by and expect at the end of the festival that there will be lots and lots of people outside and it's gonna give you a hard time getting to your hotel, I mean really hard.

Plan ahead and find other ways on getting to your hotel.

The aftermath

Overall, what we had was an amazing experience and definitely one of the best barkada trips we highly recommend, there will be lots of fun stories to tell and we are definitely coming back.

Here are some videos,

But let's not forget the real reason for the festival, the acceptance of Christianity and devotion to Sto. Nino

you can join the traditional prusisyons every morning and other religious activities.

VIVA STO. NINO

- David Fresnosa, 2015