Sinulog In New Zealand - Celebrating 25 Years

"Pit Senyor," as chanted by devotees, honours the miraculous Santo Niño, the Holy Child Jesus every third Sunday of January. Such is a pageantry of faith, a celebration of the origin Christianity in the Philippines.

This is “Sinulog”, the most illustrious and most resplendent festival in the Philippines that has been also been celebrated in New Zealand for the past 24 years. Sinulog is the biggest gathering of Filipinos in New Zealand who flock to the celebration from all over the country, with more than 5,000 in attendance in 2018 and more expected in 2019.

Traditionally celebrated for 9 days with a Novena and Mass for each day, at 6:45pm. Organised by the Devotees of the Senyor Santo Niño Group, the celebration in New Zealand begins this year on 11 January, with a liturgical dance and parade of images of the Santo Niño and Novena-Mass at the St. Patrick's Cathedral, Wyndham Square, Auckland CBD.

Sinulog culminates on the actual feast day, 20 January, with a procession at 9:30am, followed by a Mass, lunch, and group dance presentations featuring vibrant displays of ceremony and pageantry, with participants garbed in brightly coloured costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums and native gongs. The dances will portray the historical celebration of Sinulog, as well as the different cultural devotions to the Santo Niño from various parts of the Philippines.

Food for lunch and afternoon tea will be sold on site by several vendors.
The 2019 Sinulog in New Zealand is supported by the Auckland Council and The Cooperative Bank.