Cebu City dangles bigger prizes, subsidies for Sinulog 2025

Local

THE Cebu City Government announced that prizes and subsidies for Sinulog 2025 will be increased with financial support for contingents rising to as much as P1.5 million.

In a press conference on Monday, October 21, Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia outlined the city's plans to enhance the upcoming festival by boosting incentives for participants and waiving registration fees for certain categories.

The prize money for the puppeteers and "higantes" categories will see a notable increase. The first prize will jump from P75,000 to P100,000, the second prize from P50,000 to P75,000, and the third prize from P30,000 to P50,000.

Additionally, the registration fee for these categories, typically set at P1,000, will be waived for the first time in Sinulog history.

"This is a form of art, and we want to promote both the art and the artists," Garcia emphasized.

One of the most substantial changes involves subsidies for the dancing contingents. Out-of-town contingents will now receive P1.5 million in financial support, up from P800,000 in previous years.

Meanwhile, contingents from Cebu City and Cebu Province will receive P1 million each, a significant increase from the P700,000 provided this year.

Garcia explained that the lower subsidy for provincial contingents compared to out-of-town groups is due to additional support coming from the Provincial Government.

Garcia is optimistic that these changes will attract more participants to Sinulog 2025, which will take place at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) on January 19, 2025.

He added that as of the third week of October, 17 contingents had already confirmed their participation.

"By this time last year, we only had around five contingents. Now we already have 17," he said, expressing confidence that more will join once marketing efforts ramp up on social media.

In addition to local participants, Garcia mentioned that a contingent from South Korea has shown interest in joining the festivities.

He also reaffirmed that the Sinulog 2025 theme will return to its original form: "One Beat, One Dance, One Vision," in contrast to the more elaborate themes of previous years like "Sinulog to the World."

Garcia is targeting at least 30 to 35 contingents for next year's grand parade, including participants from Cebu Province, who had boycotted the festival in recent years due to concerns over safety at the South Road Properties (SRP) venue.

Under Garcia’s leadership, the event will return to its traditional venue at CCSC.

The mayor also announced that government agencies participating in the float competition will not be charged an entrance fee, further encouraging broad participation across sectors.

With these improvements, Garcia hopes to make Sinulog 2025 a grander, more inclusive celebration of Cebu's rich culture and artistic heritage.(MyTVCebu)