Sinulog De Kabankalan

  The Sinulog, Kabankalan City’s version of the world-famous “Ati-Atihan” indulged in by our ancestors, is celebrated in the third week of January. 

The SINULOG SA KABANKALAN FESTIVAL is a celebration of thanksgiving, it is celebrated every 3rd Sunday of January. It is both a cultural and religious activity. The Sinulog is a tribal war dance performed by the indigenous population, and the festival celebrates this cultural heritage as thousands join the pageantry of colors and the merry-making to rhythmic sounds and movements.

Starting in 1976, the Sinulog sa Kabankalan has been celebrated for more than 40 years and precedes other similar festivals. While it is a top tourist attraction particularly for the neighboring areas, the Sinulog sa Kabankalan has also managed to retain its authenticity and grassroots appeal.

Organized by the Kabankalan Sinulog Foundation, Inc. the festival is a community undertaking, with the support and participation of civic groups backed by the LGU. Kabankalan City is a first-class municipality in the province of Negros Occidental. A two-hour drive from the Silay-Bacolod Airport, the travel is made a breeze by the beautiful landscape dominated by vast sugar cane fields, as well as the good roads. 

The people of Kabankalan have been celebrating their version of the Sinulog to express their gratefulness and as a form of thanksgiving to their patron saint, the Sto. Niño, who
they believe had saved them from Moro pirates in olden times. For more on the feast’s history, This year, the Sinulog de Kabankalan was celebrated from January 10-19. Throughout the 10-day celebration, there were mini-events, competitions, parades, and religious activities for everyone’s enjoyment and participation. Kabankalan’s version of the Mardi GrasThe feast peaks on the last day of celebration. Here, the fluvial parade of the Sto. Niño and the concelebrated mass for the patron saint takes place. A participant waits for the Sto. Niño We were reminded that the festival is all about the Sto. Niño and the gratefulness of the people of Kabankalan for their patron saint. The Sto. Niño on its way to the concelebrated massThe grand street parade follows the Mass. Twelve tribes from various Kabankalan barangays dance their hearts out for a showcase of talent, praise, and revelry. Aside from the parade itself, one of my favorite memories from the festival was the interaction with the locals. Experiencing the festival with such warm people was a beautiful experience. Also, on the last day of the celebration, there is a tradition in which the locals will mark you with black smear, usually from charcoal, as a sign of welcome and an encouragement to enjoy the festival with them. The Sinulog de Kabankalan was definitely one of the best celebrations I’ve been to. It deserves the spotlight in terms of festival celebrations. I also hold hope that they will never lose the true spirit of the festivity that they have successfully preserved for decades.