By Luel Galarpe/PNA
CEBU CITY – Savvy Señor Santo Niño devotees and revelers can start downloading the first versions of the Sinulog 2019 mobile application before Christmas Day.
The digital companion for the country’s grandest festival, however, will be officially launched on January 4, 2019, yet, said Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak in an interview Thursday.
“The 2019 upgrade shall delight revelers. The app seeks to enhance the Sinulog experiences that devotees and revelers love during the festival,” said the city official, who chairs the Sinulog Foundation Executive Committee.
Celebrated annually on the third Sunday of January in honor of Cebu’s patron Sr. Sto. Niño, the Sinulog festival culminates a week full of religious and cultural activities alongside rave parties and concerts.
Millions of devotees and revelers are expected to spill into downtown and uptown Cebu City for the religious procession on January 19 and the grand Sinulog parade on January 20.
Tumulak said the mobile app was created as Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has been pushing for ways to reach out to the younger generations.
The mayor, he added, is also looking forward to the 2021 celebration of the 5thcentennial of Ferdinand Magellan’s arrival in Cebu way back in March 1521.
On top of the features people enjoyed in the Sinulog 2018 app, revelers can now plot their schedules with the “Favorites” feature of the upgraded app.
Tumulak said app users can also avail of discount and rewards coupons from app partners and can win prizes by posting their photos on Facebook using the #SinulogMoments hashtag.
Like in the Sinulog 2018, app users can again participate in the selection of the App Users’ Choice Award for Sinulog Festival Queen.
Tumulak said they are also looking at the possibility of having app users’ choice awards for best Sinulog contingent, Sinulog idol, and best Sinulog photo.
