How to survive Sinulog and other Philippine festivals

 

MANILA, Philippines – Thousands of local and foreign tourists are already in Cebu, as the Sinulog Festival kicked off on January 15, but more are expected to crowd the island.

Sinulog is a festival held every January. Some historians say that Filipinos had been dancing in such a festival long before the Spanish came to the Philippines, to celebrate their pagan faith. When they were converted to Catholicism, they retained the festival – this time, to commemorate their conversion and in honor of the miraculous image of the Sto. Nino. 

Are you attending Sinulog or any other festival here in the Philippines? Here are some tips to help you enjoy the events hassle-free:

 

Book everything early

From your flight down to your hotel reservations, booking early will save you a lot of money. As the dates of famous festivals approaches, airline companies increase the price of flights to certain cities while hotels in the area also do the same.

Six months before the festival is a safe period for booking. If you’re lucky, you’ll also be able to encounter seat sales, which regional airline companies usually offer.

 

Packing for the trip

Expect to get sweaty. Bring more than enough clothes for your stay as you will most likely need to change your shirt ever so often. Stick to light clothing and shorts – nothing too stuffy. Crowded festivals tend to be hot and can even make you dizzy. Avoid packing dark clothes as they absorb heat more – go for white, but make sure you wouldn’t mind soiling it beyond reuse! 

Ladies, ditch the heels. If you’re going to a festival like Sinulog or Kadayawan, you’ll surely be making long walks. In order to enjoy the festival to the fullest, go fo sandals or walking shoes instead.

 

Never go without H2O

Hydrate yourself. Huge crowds bring in heat and might make you dizzy. It could also cause a fainting spell, so it’s best to prevent this from the get-go. 

 

Sunblock

Carrying an umbrella to protect yourself from the sun’s intense heat is kind of a hassle – it’s also not that effective. Keep your skin healthy by applying sunblock throughout the day.

 

Keeping your money and gadgets safe

Be wary of pickpockets during festivals. With all the fun happening around you, it might be hard to notice when someone is trying to fiddle inside your bag. It’s best to keep to a minimum the money you bring to the parade. Put your gadgets in a bag that’s not too big and you can carry on your front. Backpacks attract thieves in festivals as they are easily opened without the owner noticing it.

 

Pace yourself

With all the alcohol going around the city, it’s hard to resist, but it’s best that you pace your drinking. You wouldn’t want to pass out in the middle of the celebration now, would you?

 

Buying souvenirs

Don’t buy some from the first vendor you see. Ask around first in the area as prices tend to vary. Vendors sell souvenirs at triple their normal price during festivals. Don’t forget to haggle.

 

Have a partner-in-crime

Attending festivals is always best with a group of friends. You have people to enjoy it with and watch your back. If you pass out because of all the drinking, someone can also carry you back to the hotel – but we do hope you pace yourself! Try to step away from the norm. Eat where locals eat and do what locals do. It’s the only way to fully experience the festival’s place.

 

In the event that you’re going alone…

If you’re a brave soul who wishes to venture into a huge festival alone, make sure that you can protect yourself. Tell someone where you’re going and, if you can, stay online. Going alone is also an opportunity to get to know the locals and make new friends.

Got your own tips for our readers on how they can survive Sinulog and other festivals in the Philippines? Let us know in the Comments section! – Rappler.com