This is a unique year for myself in that it is the first occasion in which I have been in Cebu, Philippines during their observance of “Sinulog“.
My first response to the coming of this event in which the majority of Cebuano’s observe, was one of hesitation. Although I learned that the event was an observance of the transition that Filipino’s made from paganism to Christianity in the 15th Century, some of the article of their celebration were troubling to me.
According to the history of Cebu, on April 7, 1521 Ferdinand Magellan landed on the shores of the current Mactan Island, just offshore from the main island of Cebu. Magellan ordered the planting of the Cross on the shores of Cebu making claim to the land for Spain.
Magellan presented an image of Jesus as a child to Hara Amihan, the wife of Rajah Humabon, the rulers of the island of Cebu. In response to Magellan’s appearance before them and as a witness of Jesus Christ to His death and resurrection, the King and Queen were baptized into the Christian faith.
The Queen Hara Amihan changed her name to Queen Juana in honor of the mother of Carlos the 1st, King of Spain. Over 800 of the dwellers of the island were also baptized on that day as Christians.
When Magellan presented Queen Juana with the statue of the baby Jesus, it is said that she danced with joy holding the image of Jesus in her arms. A repeat of this event is still performed in the Sinuog dance today by some of the women who dance during the festival. This dancing with the image of Jesus was the first “Sinulog” performed on the island of Cebu.
In the celebration of Sinulog today among the dancers will be one portraying Queen Juana holding the baby Jesus in her arms, called “The Santo Nino“. It is said that her dancing is to bless the people who come to Sinulog and are afflicted with sicknesses or disease.
Magellan was killed on the current Mactan island by a warrior called Lapu Lapu on April 27, 1521, just 20 days after his arrival. Lapu Lapu was a muslim who rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ and in an effort to remove Christianity’s influence on the island, Magellan was murdered.
On April 28th, 1565, forty-four years and 1 day after Magellan’s death, a group of men from Spain returned to Cebu with the Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. Coming to the village where Rajah Tupus ruled, it is said that one of the soldiers found in a wooden box, a statue of the Santo Nino along with several other pagan idols.
It is said the in the forty-four years since the death of Magellan, that the people of Cebu continued their dance with the image of Jesus in the Sinulog celebration, but not in their former worship of the pagan idols, but now in celebration of Jesus Christ.
The following letter is said to written by Juan Camus who was the soldier who found the image of the baby Jesus in the village when they returned to Cebu:
“Your Excellency should know that on that day when we entered this village (The current Cebu City) one of the soldiers went into a large and well-built house of an indio where he found an image of the Child Jesus (whose most holy name I pray may be universally worshipped). This was kept in its cradle, all gilded, just as if it were brought from Spain: and only the little cross, which is generally placed upon the globe in his hands, was lacking. The image was well kept in that house, and many flowers were found before it, and no one knows for what object or purpose. The soldier bowed down before it with all reverence and wonder, and brought the image to the place where the other soldiers were. I pray to the Holy Name of his image, which we found here, to help us and to grant us victory, in order that these lost people who are ignorant of the precious and rich treasure, which was in their possession, may come to knowledge of Him.”
By now, you have no doubt detected where my hesitancy originates. I am torn between my love and respect for my Filipino friends who obviously love Jesus, and the way Sinulog is Celebrated.
When Magellan brought a knowledge of Jesus Christ and His Salvation to these shores nearly 500 years ago, he changed the lives of Filipino’s all over the world. When anyone comes to one of the 7,200 island of the Philippines it is obvious the effects of Jesus Gospel has had on these wonderful people. Images of Jesus and His death and Resurrection are everywhere. The people love the Lord and they carry out their worship of Him in every corner of their lives.
The error for me comes from how the observance of Sinulog is performed. Although to me it does not appear that most Filipinos are worshipping the image of the Baby Jesus, I have questions as to why there is an image of the Baby Jesus at all.
Of course Jesus today is the risen King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is no longer a baby lying in a manger in Bethlehem. He rose from the dead, never to die again over 2,000 years ago. It seems that if we are to worship Him today it should be as the Risen King of Kings.
That being said, I remember many years ago that my pastor, Chuck Smith told me that the reason there are so many different kinds of Christian Churches is that people need different types of experiences with the Lord. What may be completely comfortable to me in sitting in a quiet church listening to the teaching of the Word of God, would not minister to everyone else in the same way.
Some believers in Jesus need an experience where they can carry an image of Him in their arms and dance to him in great joy and celebration. The judgement of their motives and attitude of their heart is not for my determination. On the day that Jesus comes for all of us who love Him, He will judge the secrets thoughts and intents of all men.
The word Sinulog comes from a Cebuano adverb “sulog“ which means: “Like a water current”. Describing the forward and backward movement of the Sinulog dance, resembling the flowing of a water current. The dance consists of two steps forward and one step backward, performed to the sound of drums.
It seems that if there was greater emphasis placed on the fact that Jesus is a great King today and Lord of all Lords because of His glorious resurrection, instead of the presentation of an image of a baby Jesus, it truly would be a dance of two steps forward and one step backward. By the current tradition of the image of a child Jesus, I regret that it feels like two steps backward for every single step forward.
I would encourage my Filipino friends to lobby their leadership for a much needed change in the way that Sinulog is performed and the emblems that are used in the celebration. Just as the bringing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Islands of Cebu in 1521 revolutionized the lives of millions of Filipinos, today a correct worship of Jesus as the King would revolutionize the country once more.
All it would take to make this a reality is for the spiritual leaders in Cebu to make an announcement that from now on they will worship Jesus as a King and Lord instead of just a Baby. Sinulog could be an even greater time of joy and celebration as people identify more with the King and the One who is Lord of all, than just a tiny child who once strolled along holding the Hands of Mary and Joseph.
Rob Robinson
