Waves of Faith: Sinulog Festival 2016

Apart from the novenas, masses, and processions, revolving around the Señor Santo Niño -- the centric figure epitomizing the fervent Catholic faith in Cebu -- is the Sinulog festival. Devotees, pilgrims, and revelers mix themselves up in the thick and vibrant crowd on the third Sunday of January. Sinulog is the feast of the child Jesus of Cebu.

This year, being part of the Grand Parade -- Sinulog's main attraction -- as photographer, again, was a privilege, as always. Wedged into the 3.8-mile long route populated by performers, celebrities, and floats, I was enjoying the whole journey no matter the circumstances. We had a better weather this year, too sunny it didn't rain.

Thank you, Señor Santo Niño, for the opportunity and the gift of life!

Sinulog Festival Episodes: 

Dancing to the Beat: Sinulog Festival 2015 

Colors in Motion: Sinulog Festival 2014

Impressions of Iloilo's Hispanic Past

With a sense of pride deeply rooted in its glorious Spanish-colonial past, the city of Iloilo keeps up to this day its century-old moniker, "La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad" (Most Loyal and Noble City), conferred by Queen Regent Maria Cristina on May 1898.

Affluent due to the sugar boom period, the city rightly curved itself into being one of the most elite in the country. But even now, it is still reckoned a wealthy land. Sugar haciendas or plantations in the city and around the province are its most pronounced status symbol.

Truly Hispanic by many measures, most telling is Iloilo's architectural landscape. From Catholic limestone-churches to mansions, Iloilo's surviving buildings are evidently a comfortable peep into a rich bygone era, Iloilo's cultural heritage.

And a taste of La Paz batchoy, a noodle soup with crushed chicharon (fried pork rinds), weaves itself into the fabric of the Ilonggo story.

Images:

San Joaquin Church, Iloilo

Miag-ao Church, Iloilo

San Joaquin Cemetery, Iloilo

Molo Church, Iloilo City

Museo Iloilo (Iloilo Museum), Iloilo City

Provincial Capitol of Iloilo, Iloilo City

Calle Ortiz, Iloilo City

Iloilo International Airport, Cabatuan, Iloilo