All fired up to cheer on the parade and hit the street parties that come with Cebu’s Sinulog mardi gras? On the third Sunday of January each year, tourists and homegrown revelers alike take to the streets of Cebu City to dance in honor the Santo Niño, or Christ Child, who is the patron saint of Cebu.

The Sinulog festival is alive with the color of elaborate costumes and the music made by drums, trumpets, gongs, and stomping feet. Thousands of people looking to have a good time or perhaps win in the Sinulog contests (where dance groups compete against each other, and women vie for the title of Festival Queen) unite on the streets of sunny Cebu, rallying under the Sinulog cry of Pit Senyor!

This year, as always, it’s going to be a blast, but here are some tips to help make sure that you can still “syagit ug kusog (shout out loud)” by nightfall.

Plan your parties.

Metro Cebu’s celebrations for the Sinulog festival have already started. Read up on the Sinulog schedule and ask around the Cebu bars, restaurants, and clubs to make sure you always have multiple options for where to party while in the Queen City.

Know where you’re going.

Take the time to look up the Sinulog route, which can be found on the official Sinulog website. Better yet, print it out so you don’t get lost. Following the crowd might do very well for some, but it’s better to be prepared just in case you take a wrong turn. It’s also a good idea to look at a city map and take note of where you might find a bathroom while on the parade route.

Book early or stay with friends.

Hotel rates, especially those of the hotels and inns nearest the parade route, will skyrocket during the Sinulog season. If you’re an out-of-towner, your best hope is either to book early or wrangle an invitation from Cebuano friends. Even if you’re from Cebu City, if you’re planning to party hard and live some distance away, you may want to ask a friend who lives in the area to put you up should you need to crash before you can make it all the way home.

Wait until the sun’s down to hit the booze.

With the lack of cover afforded on the streets as well as the number of people you’ll be around, it’s bound to be hot, and you’ll run the risk of dehydration. As much as you might fantasize about a bottle of sub-zero beer or a frozen margarita, try to abstain until sunset. Alcohol dehydrates the body, something you don’t need when the sun’s high in the sky.

Skip the valuables.

Lock your baubles up in your hotel safe or leave them at home. If you feel the need to accessorize, get some faux jewelry or accessories made of native materials. The crowds attract crooks, and you don’t want to be wearing something you can’t afford to lose to light fingers and jostling. You should also wear something with pockets so you can put money in them instead of carrying around a wallet that, in the crowd, is ripe for the plucking.

Bring your own water.

While there will surely be enterprising individuals walking around selling bottles of water, these will probably be jacked up in price, and they might not be around when you most desperately need them. The heat from the sun and the warm bodies in the crowd will make you sweat, and you’ll need to rehydrate to compensate for what you’re losing.

Dress with a mind to the heat.

This doesn’t necessarily mean just tank tops and shorts (although many revelers do come in these outfits), but try to avoid dark-colored clothing and heavy fabrics, since you may find yourself regretting these once the humidity hits you—and it will.

Wear hats and shades.

Protect yourself from the sun with hats and shades. If the day dawns bright and sunny, you could find yourself with a severe case of the squints, especially if you’ll be watching from the grandstand.

Don’t just wear sun block—bring it with you.

If you’re planning to engage in the festivities from morning ‘til night, you’re going to need a lot of sun screen—the higher the SPF, the better. If you don’t like sticky sun block lotions, go for the spray types. Either way, buy a sports or outdoor variety rather than the everyday sort so you don’t have to reapply every time you break a sweat. Make sure the bottle is small enough that you can bring it with you, but large enough that you can reapply as often as is indicated on the bottle. The last thing you want is a severe burn that will put a damper on your post-parade celebrations.

Allow yourself a little recovery time.

While the energy level with which you celebrate Cebu’s answer to Mardi Gras will probably be sky high, allow yourself a day or two of recovery time before you get back to work. Remember: you’ll be walking, dancing, partying, pigging out, and probably drinking all day and night. There’s a reason why the Monday after Sinulog is usually declared a holiday in Cebu. Take a page out of the Cebuanos’ book and make sure to schedule a siesta after the fiesta.

For more information and tips, check out the official website for the Sinulog 2010 committee.

Photo courtesy of Eric Paolo P. Smith