SM City Cebu, in partnership with the Sinulog Foundation, Inc., has prepared a series of events to celebrate the Sinulog Festival this January.

"Sinulog," from the Cebuano word sulog which describes the backward-forward movement of the dance, is one of the grandest and most colorful festivals in the Philippines. It is held every year on the third Sunday of January in Cebu to honor the Santo Nino.

The festival features some of the country’s most colorful displays of ceremony and pageantry with participants dancing to the rhythm of drums and gongs in brightly colored costumes.

Sinulog gets off to a great start on January 10 at the Entertainment Plaza with a party featuring the Lupon Anduyo Drumbeaters and the San Diego Dancers at 4 p.m.

Not to be missed is the Sinanduloy Sinulog Group’s Costume Exhibit at the Second Level of the Northwing from January 9 -19. The multi-awarded Sinanduloy group of Tangub City will also perform on January 16 at 4 p.m.

Santo Nino Devotees, on the other hand, will enjoy the Los Companeros de Juego del Senor Santo Nino’s Exhibit of different images at the SM Art Center from January 11-February 9. The exhibit will start with a Holy Mass at 9 a.m. at the Northwing Atrium and will be followed by a procession to the Art Center.

Shoppers will also have the chance to see the colorful photos of last year’s festivities captured by Cebu’s top photographers in the Sinulog 2008 Photo Exhibit until January 31 at the Second Floor of the Northwing.

There’ll be a lot fun shopping during all the revelry with SM City Cebu’s Sinulog Sale from January 12 to 18.

The beauty of Cebuanas is captured in an exhibit of the 12 lovely finalists of the Cebu City Tourism Foundation’s Ms. Cebu 2009 at the second level of the Northwing. Shoppers can vote for their favorite candidate for Ms. Cebu and Ms. Photogenic on-line until January 14. Equally eye catching is the photo shoot of the Sinulog Queen contestants on January 15 at the Entertainment Plaza.

Grand performances by some of the country’s hottest stars and performing groups are also lined up for this grand event. The Company, the country’s premiere vocal ensemble, will serenade shoppers at the SM Foodcourt on January 13 at 4 p.m. with songs from their latest album. On the same day, "Pinoy Dream Academy" scholars will meet and greet their fans at the Entertainment Plaza at 5 p.m. Capping the star-filled day is the visit by "Love Me Again’s" Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin at 6 p.m. at the Entertainment Plaza.

Guarana and Gruppo Tribale will perform on January 16 at the Northwing Alfresco Area during the Grand Street Party at 6 p.m.

Fans of Marian Rivera and Dennis Trillo will also have a chance to meet the hottest stars of the GMA Network on Kapuso Day on January 17, 2 p.m. at the old V-Hire Terminal, while the Cueshe Band will perform at the Entertainment Plaza at 5 p.m.

Cebu skies will dazzle on the same day with first ever Sinulog Fireworks Competition at 8 p.m. fronting the Northwing. Six contestants from Cebu and other provinces will be joining the competition.