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Pit Senyor! Our plea to Senyor Sto. Niño. Priests and young artists sing in prayer the Gozos to Sto. Niño – Batobalani sa Gugma in a plea for intercession. “We humbly ask to the child Jesus for his merciful care to our front liners, to those infected by the virus, and to all who patiently stayed at home,” they said on the Facebook page of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu.

Eco-Friendly Sinulog 2020 launched

Pit Senyor! Cebuanos look forward to a fast recovery from the pandemic. Organizers, however, canceled the celebration of Sinulog 2021 this January. Let us look forward to the start of the commemoration of the 5th centennial of the birth of Christianity in Southeast Asia.

“Viva! Pit Senyor! ” This is the loud cry heard right after every mass during the nine-day novena which culminates on the third Sunday of January — the fiesta of Senyor Sto. Niño. 

The same cry resonates during the solemn procession on Saturday and particularly during the Grand Sinulog Parade.

For the first time Sinulog reveler, you might even be surprised with Cebuanos greeting you “Pit Senyor!” Of course, respond with an equally energetic “Pit Senyor!”

Sinulog party-goers should not be surprised by “Pit Senyor” chants  while dancing to pulsating Sinulog beats.

But what exactly does the phrase “Pit Senyor” mean?

The Basilica Minore de Santo Nino de Cebu website traced the expression back to the time when candle vendors in front of the Augustinian Church of Cebu render the “sinug” or “a prayer-dance offered either in supplication or in thanksgiving to the Señor Santo Niño.”

This is the dance of candle-waving women who follow a simple forward and backward routine while offering prayers for any devotee. These is the basic steps for “Sinug,” the dance.

The “sinug” dance routine is said to be in imitation of the sulog (current) of the Pahina river of Cebu City.

Pit Senyor while dancing Sinulog

While dancing and waving candles, the women chant: “Pit Señor! Pit Señor!” which is short for “Sangpit sa Senyor.”

This is translated as “to call on the Señor” or “Plea to the Señor Santo Niño. It also loosely means “Hail the Lord!”

Devotees have also adopted the chant as an ejaculatory prayer and one would normally hear petitions like: “Pit Senyor Kang Tatay Kini (Hail the Lord, this one’s for my father!)” (http://basilicasantonino.org.ph/pages/basilica_complex.html#M)

Through the years, Cebuanos have come to greet each other “Pit Senyor!” during the fiesta. 

Understanding the meaning behind the phrase deepens one’s appreciation of the cry. It ceases to be just another catchphrase blared out of loudspeakers to rev up a frenzy for the grand parade.

A recent lecture on the Roots of Sinulog at Palm Grass Hotel points to the Muslim and Taosug influences on the traditional Sinulog.

Related Sinulog stories 

The photos below show flowers that decorate the chapel of Señor Santo Niño inside the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu City. PRWorks personnel did this last January 12, 2019 as part of an annual panata or vow.

Parokya ni Edgar and Abra at Kalingawan sa Plaza

Cebu City mayor pushes Sinulog 2018 mobile app

Sinulog: Cebu’s Dance of Worship

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