A Sinulog Dancer’s Faith

This Sinulog dancer does not dance during the Sinulog Festival held every third week of January. This Sinulog dancer does not also wear the fancy costumes worn by the other Sinulog dancers during the activity, instead she wears a plain white blouse and yellow skirt. This Sinulog dancer is Manang (aunt) Herminigelda “Remy” Aledon.

Manang Remy has been a sinulog dancer for more than a year now, but for most of her life she’s been a candle vendor. She started selling candles at the age of twelve! Also, she’s married to a candle stockholder for 37 years, and she has three kids.

As a Sinulog Dancer and Candle Vendor:

Tons of visitors come to Magellan’s Cross everyday. Some of these visitors have prayers, wishes or goals, while others come for a tour of the place. The Sinulog dancers perform the dancing and the prayers for the visitors who requests one.

Manang Remy confers that most of the prayers are requested by students who want to pass their license test. Or students who want to have good grades. In another way, they also request prayers after getting good grades or passing an exam. Others pray for their sick loved ones. Manang Remy believes that the Child Jesus or Santo Niño is listening to the masses prayers and helps them achieve what they want to accomplish.
Fortunately for Manang Remy and her colleagues, they are exempted from paying taxes. However, they must follow the uniform code and they need to be a member of the organization. No membership equals no selling of candles and sinulog dancing.

I also asked Manang Remy about the colors of her candles. She said, pink stands for happiness, yellow means good health, green represent success, blue embodies Mama Mary, and red equals love. Each of the candles costs P5.00, nothing less, nothing more. Manang Remy explained that this price is enough to help the vendors and the candle makers.
Manang Remy also added that prayer is the only solution. Despite misfortunes in her life, one of which is the death of her youngest child, she declares praying and believing is the most effective way of surviving the challenges all of us are going to face in the present and in the future. She also mentioned that faith, coupled with kindness, humbleness and selflessness will ensure you a meaningful stay on Earth.

It’s my first time to interview a Sinulog dancer, and my first time to really understand what these people are doing. After the interview, I bought my own set of candles and prayed for my family, future and fate.

So, don’t forget to visit Magellan’s Cross and meet the sinulog vendors and dancers when you come to Cebu City. You’ll be amazed by these people’s strength, faith and of course willingness.