This year’s Sinulog celebration will go global with parades and street dancing showing national costumes of foreign countries.

This is in keeping with Cebu City’s hosting the Internatinal Eucharistic Congress a week after the Sinulog, said Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI).

More than 100 foreign flags will be on display at the stage of the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) during the finale of the Sinulog grand parade on Sunday, January 17.

“Since the IEC is held close to the Sinulog, we tried to incorporate the two events. This is also our way of welcoming the IEC delegates to Cebu,” he told Cebu Daily News.

Masses and congress proceedings will be translated in seven languages, including Spanish, German, and Italian.

A total of 15,000 delegates are expected for the IEC, but open air Masses and processions will draw up to 1 million.

The Sinulog grand parade typically draws over 1 million spectators.

Ballesteros said organizers are coordinating with the Police Regional Office to make sure that both events remain orderly.

“Both events are of equal importance to us because whatever happens to the Sinulog will also affect the IEC,” Ballesteros said.

The religious dimension of the Sinulog, the Fiesta Señor, opens on Thursday, Jan. 7 with the annual “Walk with Jesus” from Fuente Osmeña Circle to the Sto. Niño basilica at 4 a.m.

On Friday, Jan. 8, the launch parade of the Sinulog will have participants from 14 Cebu City schools, colleges and universities using Osmeña Boulevard from the basilica, Fuente Osmeña to the CCSC grandstand.

Dancers will wear the national costumes of the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Hawaii, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Spain, France and Egypt in line with this year’s theme, “Sinulog Goes Global.”

About 500 performers will occupy the grand stand stage to carry about 120 flags of different countries participating in the IEC.

Choral groups and dancers will perform the IEC theme song composed by Danny Villarojo.

Ballesteros said the grand finale that is expected to last 15 to 20 minutes will be shorter than usual, enough to give emphasis on the IEC participants.

“All the dances will be made short but sweet and with an international touch,” he said.

On January 30, in one activity of the IEC, the sports center’s grandstand will accommodate 15,000 — 5,000 children with their parents for the first communion Mass, which will be presided by Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

Ballesteros said a Sinulog dance will be staged as well for the first communicants.

Tickets for grandstand seats are on sale at the SFI office at the Cebu City Sports Center and at their official website at www.sinulogph.com/tickets.

Tickets can be picked up at the Sinulog Office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To claim the ticket, buyers must present their order number and valid ID.