PH Consulate General in Macau Supports Celebration of the Sinulog Festival
The Bisdak contingent gives a preview of their competition piece. The group won the Grand Prize as well as best in choreography and costume. (Lilybeth R. Deapera photo)
MACAU 24 January 2020 — The Philippine Consulate General in Macau attended the 20th celebration of the Sinulog Festival organized by the Santo Niño de Macao Association held on 19 January 2020 at the Sintra Square.
The festival is one of the biggest celebrations in the calendar of the Filipino community and is recognized by the Macau SAR government. Estimates indicate that more than 1,000 Filipinos and non-Filipinos attended the event.
The nine-day Novena held from 09 to 17 January 2020 at the offices of New Allied Cleaning Services in Areia Preta preceded the festival celebration. The Philippine Consulate General hosted the ninth day of the novena while other Filipino organizations covered the earlier schedules.
The community held mass at St. Augustine Church in the morning of the festival after which participants in the celebratory procession proceeded to Sintra Square passing through Avenida Comercial de Macau and Avenida Panoramica do Lago Nam Van. They danced with the fundamental movement of two steps forward and one step backward. This year's theme was "One Beat, One Dance in the World".
Consul General to Macau Lilybeth R. Deapera congratulated the organizers and participants to the festival and acknowledged that Sinulog is prayer manifested in a dance because the faithful believe that the Santo Niño is their protector and has the power to grant and answer their prayers. She also thanked the Macau SAR Government for allowing the community to observe their faith and hold this yearly festival.
Labor Attaché Ms. Maria Nena G. German congratulated the organizers and participants to the festival and said that the dance simulates the river's current. She also said that the festival manifested unity among the member of the Filipino community in Macau. END
Consul General to Macau Lilybeth R. Deapera addresses the audience. Behind her are the judges of the competition. (Reyfred B. Tornea photo)
Welfare Officer Zosima Maria Santos (first from left), Collecting Officer Caroline Angeles (second from left), Consul General to Macau Lilybeth R. Deapera (fourth from left) and Labor Attaché Maria Nena G. German (fifth from left) with some members of the Filipino community during the salo-salo after the novena mass on 17 January 2020. (Brenda Olinares photo)
From left: POLO/OWWA Administrative Assistant Jingky Bayod, Labor Attaché Maria Nena G. German, Consul General to Macau Lilybeth R. Deapera and Welfare Officer Zosima Maria Santos pose for posterity before the start of the mass. (Jingky Bayod photo)
Guardians PGBI pose for posterity after receiving their award. (Reyfred B. Tornea photo)
For more information, visit https://www.macaupcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinMacau/.