Sinulog Fluvial Breakfast!

Sinulog in Cebu is the biggest festival in the Philippines, celebrating the feast of the Child Jesus, Santo Niño de Cebú, with a dance ritual to the beat of the drums. Held every third Sunday of January, it is the largest and most attended fiesta in the country with an all-day-long parade and party.

One day before the Santo Niño procession, the image of the Child Jesus visits his Mother in Lapu Lapu City via the sea. Early in the morning of Saturday, the Santo Niño returns to Cebu City, reenacting the coming of the Spaniards through a Fluvial Parade on Cebu's Pahina River.
This is one of my best Sinulog experiences ever, not only because of the parade, but also because of the great fluvial breakfast I got to taste there!

The Fluvial Parade starts after the celebration of the Holy Mass. We woke up as early as 4.30am and boarded our Islands Banca boat around 5.30am.



We were excited for our first early morning Fluvial Parade experience.



The boats assemble at around 6am, and this is when the party begins...



You get to listen to the beating of the drums and watch the Sinulog dance from the privacy of your boat.



The bridges overhead have people yelling "Viva Pit Señor" as they hold on to their Santo Niño images.



Cebu's Eye in the Sky covers the Fluvial Parade and also showers the people below with flower petals.



Island Banca Cruises and various hotels in Cebu participate in this event. Plan your trip ahead of time.



Each boat has its own decoration, gimmick and dancing all morning long.



You can bring your own Santo Niño and join in the dance.



The image of the Santo Niño is paraded around the river and delivered to the pier, where a carosa waits to bring it to the church.
Over the years, the Fluvial Parade is starting to run the risk of losing its religious meaning because a lot of people join it just to party.


















One of the most enjoyable parts of our fluvial experience was the Cebu Breakfast -- with the Cebu Lechon as the centerpiece!



Cebuanos sure know how to serve and enjoy a hearty breakfast!



On the table were hard-boiled eggs and Cebuano mangoes.



I loved the Puto Maya Suman with chunks of mango...



...and dunking it in a delicious serving of Hot Chocolate!

 

This is one of the best hot chocolate dips I've ever tasted. It's rich and not too sweet, with a hint of ginger.
You can also dunk your bananas in it...



...or pair it with chocolate-filled rolls.



Cebuanos really know how to party, eat a grand breakfast and have fun! Sinulog is indeed the festival of FUN in the Philippines! :)

from  www.OurAwesomePlanet.com