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TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY | FULL FRAME
Life Behind the Scenes At Cebu City Grand Festival
What Makes a Festival Truly Alive
My recent visit to Cebu was to capture the colorful and world-famous Festival. “Sinulog” comes from the word “Sulog” meaning (water or wave-like movement).
Sinulog in Cebu City, Philippines is known worldwide for its colors, energy, and joyful celebrations.
There were an estimated 4 million attendees this year. (Source)
With my camera in hand, I was excited to capture the lively parade, the music, and the dances. But as I started taking photos, I found my attention shifting. Instead of just the festival, I began noticing the people working quietly in the background.
One image stayed with me — a young boy standing under the scorching heat of the midday sun. His face looked tired and serious as he held brightly decorated hats for sale. The colors of the hats were cheerful, but the boy didn’t seem to share that same joy. Maybe he was helping his family earn money, or maybe this was his way of being part of the festival. Either way, I couldn’t stop thinking…
