The #Trànsits series introduces us to the celebration of the Sinulog this January
The series “Trànsits: músiques de l’esperit” [Transitions: Music of the Spirit], organised by the Museu de la Música de Barcelona and the Religious Affairs Office as part of the “Power or revolt” season at L’Auditori, continues with “Sinulog: commemoration of the evangelisation of the Philippines”, which will be taking place on 21 January. The programme first started in 2022 and shines a spotlight on the close ties between music and the spiritual practices of various religious communities in Barcelona through a series of sessions consisting of a talk and a music-based ritual.
[TICKETS SOLD OUT BY 21/01. TICKETS REMAIN FOR THE 01/18 CONVERSATION, DON’T MISS IT!]
SINULOG. COMMEMORATION OF THE EVANGELISATION OF THE PHILIPPINES
This year, as part of the “Trànsits: músiques de l’esperit” [Transitions: Music of the Spirit] (2023-2024) programme, the Filipino Catholic community has been working with the Religious Affairs Office (OAR) and the Museu de la Música de Barcelona to organise “Sinulog: commemoration of the evangelisation of the Philippines”, which will be taking place on Sunday 21 January at 4.30 pm in the Parròquia de Sant Agustí in Barcelona, which is home to the Filipino Catholic church. This third session in the second edition of the programme will consist of a display of the traditional festive dance in Plaça de Sant Agustí, and a special traditional festive mass in the church of La Immaculada Concepció i Sant Lorenzo Ruiz.
The Sinulog commemorates the Holy Child, Jesus, supposedly given in the year 1521 by the explorer Fernao de Magalhães, in representation of the Spanish crown, to the monarchs/’rajah’ of the island of Cebú, to mark their baptism. It is at once a party, a festival, a ritual and a religious celebration that combines Christian elements with traditional elements from the territory. On the third Sunday of January, the main event of the festival is held, consisting of a procession in which the participants, dressed in brightly coloured clothing, dance to the rhythm of traditional music.
For the past 31 years Barcelona’s Filipino Catholic community has been organising the celebration of the Sinulog in the city, at the initiative of the Visayas-Mindanao Association of Catalonia. During this time the celebration has been enriched with elements contributed by the local community settled in the Raval neighbourhood, including live and recorded music.
The event on Sunday 21 will be complemented with a talk featuring interventions from various members of Barcelona’s Filipino community, which will take place on Thursday 18 January at 6.30 pm in the Museu de la Música de Barcelona. Speaking at the event will be Macrina Alcedo Reconsal, Medal of Honour of the City Council of Barcelona, resident in Barcelona for 45 years, who has worked for various organisations in support of Filipino migrants and the dissemination of their culture; Father Lino de Castro, Filipino Community rector at the church of Immaculada Concepció i San Lorenzo Ruiz, and father Michael Go, of the Order of Saint Augustine, Parochial Vicar of Sant Agustí in Barcelona. The talk will be moderated by Jordi Alomar, musicologist and cultural affairs manager, teacher in the Department of Technologies and Music Management at the ESMUC and director of the Museu de la Música de Barcelona – Robert Gerhard Centre since 2021.
PRIOR TALK: CELEBRATION RITUALS OF THE FILIPINO DIASPORA IN BARCELONA
Free activity. Capacity is limited and prior booking is required HERE!
- Day: Thursday, 18 January
- Venue: Museu de la Música de Barcelona ( L’Auditori. Lepant 150, 2a planta)
- Time: 6.30 pm
[SOLD OUT!] TRADITIONAL SINULOG DANCE AND MASS, with Barcelona’s Filipino community:
free activity Capacity is limited and prior booking is required HERE!
- Day: Sunday 21 January
- Venue: Parròquia de Sant Agustí (plaça de Sant Agustí, 2)
- Time: 4.30 pm