Tagbilaran makes historic debut at Sinulog 2026
CEBU CITY—For generations, devotion to the Santo Niño has shaped the spiritual life of Boholanos, binding communities through faith, tradition and shared stories.
This devotion continues to thrive across the province, expressed through annual fiestas in towns, such as Cortes, Valencia, Anda, Getafe and Ubay, where ritual, music and dance honor the Santo Niño.
Many Boholanos also travel to Cebu to participate in the Sinulog Festival, renewing their spiritual commitments. Bohol has previously showcased its culture at Sinulog, with Panglao and Bien Unido joining the Sinulog mardi gras in past years.
This year, Tagbilaran City made history with its first-ever participation in the Sinulog 2026 Grand Parade under the Sinulog-based category on Sunday.
Tagbilaran was represented by a 400-member contingent from Barangay Ubujan, including 100 dancers, 200 props men and 100 instrumentalists, all performing in harmony to reflect faith and the Boholano identity.
Consistent winner
Barangay Ubujan boasts a strong cultural pedigree, having won the Saulog Tagbilaran Grand Championships in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2025, and securing first runner-up in the 2025 Sandugo sa Bohol Festival.
The contingent showcased tarsier mascots, elements from Saulog Tagbilaran and Loboc’s Bolibong Kingking Festival and the soul-stirring Kuradang de Bohol melody, performed on banjo and bandurria.
Sinulog queen Cristina Lagura, 20, expressed her excitement: “I’m super excited to dance in the Sinulog together with contingents from other places. Win or lose, everything is offered wholeheartedly to the Santo Niño.”
Tagbilaran Mayor Jane Yap described the participation as a reflection of unity and shared purpose.
“Guided by our devotion to Señor San Jose and our reverence for Señor Santo Niño, we proudly bring Tagbilaran’s culture and identity to the national stage,” she said.
The Sinulog 2026 Grand Parade featured 37 contingents, including 12 from outside Cebu, eight from the province and 17 under Sinulog sa Dakbayan.
Around 3.3 million people watched the parade, with the heaviest crowds at Fuente Osmeña and Mango Avenue.
Authorities reported no major incidents aside from several dancers fainting from the heat, who were promptly assisted.
“As the afternoon progressed, the crowd grew steadily. So far, the situation has remained manageable for our police,” said Police Lt. Col. Franco Rudolf Oriol, deputy city director for administration of the Cebu City Police Office.
