17 January 2023, CANBERRA – Ambassador Ma. Hellen De La Vega joined the Filipino Community in Canberra in celebrating the Feast of Sto. Niño (Child Jesus) or Sinulog Festival in Canberra on 15 January 2023.

The Sinulog Festival in Canberra was organized by the Philippine Cultural Society headed by Ms. Fedeline Galarita Donaghue. The mass to honor the Sto. Niño officiated by two Filipino priests, Father Anthony Riosa and Father Renoir Oliver, was held in St. Francis Xavier Church, which is one of the oldest churches in the Australian Capital Territory. After the mass, the community celebrated in true fiesta style with Filipino dishes and dances that mark Sinulog in the Philippines.

The Sinulog Festival is a traditional celebration in the province of Cebu in the Philippines held every third Sunday of January to honor the Santo Niño. The festival is well known for its dance ritual that tells the story of the Filipino people’s pagan past and their acceptance of Christianity. The word “Sinulog” means “graceful dance”. The festival started in 1980 with a simple dance that represents the “sulog” (or current) of a river in Cebu. END