TARA SA CEBU:
CEBUANO BEATS
When in Cebu, what does one do?
It’s a question that sparks curiosity and adventure, especially in a city as vibrant and culturally rich as Cebu. Known for its historical landmarks, breathtaking beaches, and mouthwatering cuisine, Cebu offers a tapestry of experiences for travelers. And when the Sinulog Festival comes around, the city comes alive with a pulsating energy that ignites the spirit of celebration for the rest of the country.
When in Cebu, what does one do?
Twilight at CCLEX, Cebu City
It’s a question that sparks curiosity and adventure, especially in a city as vibrant and culturally rich as Cebu. Known for its historical landmarks, breathtaking beaches, and mouthwatering cuisine, Cebu offers a tapestry of experiences for travelers. And when the Sinulog Festival comes around, the city comes alive with a pulsating energy that ignites the spirit of celebration for the rest of the country.
Twilight at CCLEX, Cebu City
Sinulog is the country’s biggest cultural event and religious festival. Celebrated to honor the Holy Child Jesus or the Santo Niño, the festival boasts a myriad of activities spanning several weeks until the third Sunday of January. Devotees come together in droves for the novena masses at Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu, and walk with Jesus, the penitential foot procession. Meanwhile, revelers from all over the country (and even abroad) join the festivities that famously include the Grand Float Parade.
Sinulog is the country’s biggest cultural event and religious festival. Celebrated to honor the Holy Child Jesus or the Santo Niño, the festival boasts a myriad of activities spanning several weeks until the third Sunday of January. Devotees come together in droves for the novena masses at Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu, and walk with Jesus, the penitential foot procession. Meanwhile, revelers from all over the country (and even abroad) join the festivities that famously include the Grand Float Parade.
The All-New Mitsubishi Triton during the Sinulog Grand Float Parade
You might be wondering though, what else was on our itinerary? Cebu City during Sinulog means the fun doesn’t end when the sun sets. Amidst the colorful parades and lively processions, the Sinulog Festival is not complete without the nightly celebration of music. Across the city, from bustling concert grounds to mall shows, concerts and gigs abound, showcasing the talents of Cebuano-bred artists alongside emerging new voices.
Join us as we explore the rhythm and soul of the city’s music scene.
SMOOTH FRICTION – BISAYA ROCK OGs
Smooth Friction is a four-piece band associated with the Bisaya Rock or BisRock movement in the early 2000s, when original compositions sung in Cebuano dominated Visayas-Mindanao airwaves. As multi-genre maestros, Smooth Friction plays metal just as comfortably as they can do jazz. Like their BisRock contemporaries Missing Filemon and Aggressive Audio, Smooth Friction has a tongue-in-cheek humor in their lyrics.
Eight full-length albums and one EP later–approximately 100 songs all in all—they’re still standing and going strong. Starting a band is one thing, but it takes dedication to be this prolific. We jammed to their set right in front of the stage, and it wasn’t only our heads bobbing along to the beats. At the open-air venue that had a view of Cebu’s urban sprawl, Smooth Friction, and other BisRock bands made one perfect night that gave major Coachella vibes.
Smooth Friction is a four-piece band associated with the Bisaya Rock or BisRock movement in the early 2000s, when original compositions sung in Cebuano dominated Visayas-Mindanao airwaves. As multi-genre maestros, Smooth Friction plays metal just as comfortably as they can do jazz. Like their BisRock contemporaries Missing Filemon and Aggressive Audio, Smooth Friction has a tongue-in-cheek humor in their lyrics.
Eight full-length albums and one EP later–approximately 100 songs all in all—they’re still standing and going strong. Starting a band is one thing, but it takes dedication to be this prolific. We jammed to their set right in front of the stage, and it wasn’t only our heads bobbing along to the beats. At the open-air venue that had a view of Cebu’s urban sprawl, Smooth Friction, and other BisRock bands made one perfect night that gave major Coachella vibes.
Smooth Friction during the Sinulog Music Festival 2024
A STAR IS REBORN IN DOM GUYOT
Another night, another gig!
We attended a mall show featuring Dom Guyot at Ayala Central Bloc in Cebu City. An emerging voice in the industry, Dom Guyot reinvents the local soundscape with soulful tracks that he has performed everywhere from Wish 107.5 to Billboard PH Soundwave. As an R&B singer-songwriter, Dom Guyot embraces the full spectrum of love, longing, and loss. Dom Guyot proudly wears his heart on his sleeve, not just for himself but also for the queer community.
Dom Guyot performing his greatest hits
Lourdes Maglinte opening the show
Like many Filipinos who make the trip back home for their fiestas, Dom Guyot’s Sinulog gig that night was a homecoming. It was his first gig as a headliner in his hometown. With Lourdes Maglinte supporting as a front act, Dom Guyot performed both hits and new songs he will soon release as an independent artist. The audience was in for a treat as we witnessed Dom’s range onstage. Whether he’s grooving with backup dancers to self-love anthem “Free” or serenading the crowd with “Ambitions,” the Dom Guyot Experience is always a good time.
HOMEGROWN HITS AND BEYOND
7-member Sansette during their special Sinulog gig
When you’re in Cebu, the beach always calls for you. Sansette is the indie-pop band you want in the soundtrack to your seaside getaway. Think surf riffs and the saxophone. Even their music videos capture the feeling of a summer vacation, salty breeze, sandy toes and all. Established in 2019, they’ve had a tropical state of mind since day one, with songs like “Sunburn” and “Beachtown Boys”.
And for our much-needed dose of vitamin sea, we didn’t have to drive all the way to Moalboal or catch a barge to Bantayan Island. Sansette took us there with their music on a special pop-up gig. In that rooftop venue overlooking the Mactan Channel and the bustling skyline of the metro, the vibes were immaculate.
The Sinulog festival also has a long-running musical tradition: Sinulog Idol, Cebu’s grandest singing contest where twelve hopefuls show off their vocal abilities in a week-long nightly marathon. Previous contestants of Sinulog Idol have gone on to compete at Pilipinas Got Talent and The Voice Generations Philippines.
Sinulog Idol 15 – Grand Finalists
Sinulog Idol 15 Grand Winner – Jay-r Panuncialman
For Sinulog Idol’s 15th year, Jay-r Panuncialman of Carcar is the grand champion. Panuncialman’s victory came as a pleasant surprise for the underdog. He was in the bottom three two nights in a row and didn’t win Star of the Night in the days leading up to the finale.
What turned the tide and won everyone’s hearts was Jay-R’s performance of “After the Tears”, an original song composed by Gani Villarojo and Isabella Villarojo for Sinulog Idol 15. Both this rough start and the original composition were historical firsts for Sinulog Idol.
If you think Sinulog is the only time for music lovers to visit Cebu for an epic night out, we’ve got good news for you—the scene is alive and active year-round. In the mood for ballads written and sung in Cebuano? There’s VisPop. Are you more of a metalhead? Progressive and power metal bands dot the city by the dozens. Looking for electro-tinged synths, shoegaze songs, or indie-alternative music in general? The fellows at John Bottles Events, Counterflow Productions, Melt Records, Pawn and September Fever should have something lined up for you. On any given weekend, there’s a show to catch.
Cebu’s music scene will continue to persevere through the years, and it will flourish further with innovation. With the Cebuanos’ penchant for creativity, the future sounds like something to look forward to.
Fast Autoworld Phils. Corp. – Cebu South
MMPC Dealership
If you think Sinulog is the only time for music lovers to visit Cebu for an epic night out, we’ve got good news for you—the scene is alive and active year-round. In the mood for ballads written and sung in Cebuano? There’s VisPop. Are you more of a metalhead? Progressive and power metal bands dot the city by the dozens. Looking for electro-tinged synths, shoegaze songs, or indie-alternative music in general? The fellows at John Bottles Events, Counterflow Productions, Melt Records, Pawn and September Fever should have something lined up for you. On any given weekend, there’s a show to catch.
Fast Autoworld Phils. Corp. – Cebu South
MMPC Dealership
Cebu’s music scene will continue to persevere through the years, and it will flourish further with innovation. With the Cebuanos’ penchant for creativity, the future sounds like something to look forward to.
Our Sinulog experience was made more exciting when we drove with our trusted Mitsubishi Montero Sport. We not only jammed to music during the concerts and gigs, but also while driving, staying musically connected through Apple CarPlay. We are definitely coming back to Sinulog Festival
next year and we’re taking our Montero Sport with us!
Our Sinulog experience was made more exciting when we drove with our trusted Mitsubishi Montero Sport. We not only jammed to music during the concerts and gigs, but also while driving, staying musically connected through Apple CarPlay. We are definitely coming back to Sinulog Festival
next year and we’re taking our Montero Sport with us!
