By Helen Castaño and Jhelmar Jala | 09:20 PM January 18, 2026
CEBU CITY — First-time participant Tagbilaran City made a triumphant debut at Sinulog 2026 after clinching the Best in Musicality award and being crowned Champion in the Ritual Showdown, Sinulog-Based Category on Sunday, January 18, in Cebu City.
The victory marks Tagbilaran City’s first-ever participation—and championship win—in one of the country’s most prestigious cultural and religious festivals.
The city’s entry was a collective undertaking of the Tagbilaran City Government, led by Mayor Jane Yap, in close partnership with Barangay Ubujan under the leadership of Punong Barangay Mary Jane Ruiz.
The 400-member Tagbilaran City contingent was composed of 100 dancers, 200 props men, and 100 instrumentalists, who worked in unison to deliver a synchronized, faith-driven, and culturally rooted performance during the Sinulog Grand Parade.
Barangay Ubujan, the cultural backbone of the contingent, is a multi-awarded group, having secured Saulog Tagbilaran Grand Championships in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2025, and finishing as First Runner-Up at the 2025 Sandugo sa Bohol Festival.
Mayor Yap said the city’s participation and victory in Sinulog 2026 highlight the power of collaboration between the city government and grassroots communities.
“This is a shared effort of the city government, our barangays, and our cultural talents. Guided by our devotion to Señor San Jose, our reverence for Señor Santo Niño, and our united mission, we bring Tagbilaran’s culture and identity to the national stage,” Yap said.
As the contingent danced through the streets of Cebu City, Tagbilaran City carried not only trophies, but also the prayers, pride, and collective spirit of its people—showcasing its faith, heritage, and unity at Sinulog 2026.
An estimated 5 million people witnessed the Sinulog Grand Parade, according to the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office as of 5 p.m. Sunday.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Franco Rudolf Oriol, event commander of the Sinulog Grand Parade and deputy city director for administration of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), noted that the crowd significantly swelled in the afternoon as temperatures eased and more spectators filled the parade routes.
