CEBU (UCAN): Archbishop Alberto Uy of Cebu, warned organisers of the Sinulog Festival not to accept funding from entities linked to the gambling industry.
The festival, celebrated from January in Cebu City, is among the largest religious festivals in the Philippines. This year’s theme, “United in Faith and Love”, highlights the celebration of faith, history, and culture.
In a public statement, Archbishop Uy urged festival organisers to honour the Child Jesus and refuse contributions from casinos “that see the large gatherings merely as an opportunity for profit,” according to a Fides report on 13 January.
“My appeal is simple, but heartfelt: The Sinulog Festival should remain a celebration that truly reflects the joy, purity, and light of the Santo Niño. We can honour him not only with our dances, prayers, and celebrations, but also through the moral choices we make in organising this sacred event,” the archbishop said.
Festival organisers should, he said, choose partners “that are in harmony with the values of faith, family, culture, and community.”
My appeal is simple, but heartfelt: The Sinulog Festival should remain a celebration that truly reflects the joy, purity, and light of the Santo Niño. We can honour him not only with our dances, prayers, and celebrations, but also through the moral choices we make in organising this sacred event
Archbishop Uy
He also noted, “There are many public and private institutions that can and want to support the festival without compromising its moral character.”
Also known as the Sinulog (meaning ‘water current’) Festival, the event is characterised by prayers and traditional forward–backward dance movements performed to the rhythm of drums. The festival draws millions of pilgrims and tourists annually.
Archbishop Uy said the spiritual feast encourages families “to give up destructive habits such as gambling”, adding that “the holy celebrations will not be financially supported by institutions associated with such habits.”
He further described gambling halls as “environments that can lead to addiction, the breakdown of families, financial losses, and moral confusion.”
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Originally established as a tribute to the Santo Niño, the festival has grown into one of the largest annual tourist attractions in the Philippines.
Gambling remains a significant social issue in the Philippines. Official data released in 2025 indicates that about 32 million Filipinos—roughly half of the country’s 60 million adult population—gamble regularly
The festival was initially intended to commemorate the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines and the first Mass celebrated on Philippine soil over five centuries ago.
Prayer remains central to the festival, with a nine-day novena preceding the feast. Tens of thousands flock to the Basilica del Santo Niño in Cebu, which houses the country’s oldest Christian statue.
The feast day culminates in a grand parade lasting up to 12 hours, featuring traditional dances in colourful costumes, allegorical floats, and live music. The event symbolises the transition of the Filipino people from their pagan roots to Christianity.
Gambling remains a significant social issue in the Philippines. Official data released in 2025 indicates that about 32 million Filipinos—roughly half of the country’s 60 million adult population—gamble regularly.
The government reported an almost 200 per cent increase compared to the 8.2 million registered gamblers the previous year, a rise primarily attributed to “players of electronic video games.”
