Vendors housed at the temporary Devotee City facility in Cebu are raising alarms over a severe slowdown in their earnings as the Sinulog Festival 2026 unfolds. Pilgrims who traveled from across the province to sell traditional items report a stark contrast in customer traffic and daily income compared to previous celebrations.
Struggling Sales for Traditional Goods
Juvelyn Siase, a candle vendor from Pinamungajan, highlighted a key challenge: the lack of designated lighting areas near the vendor stalls. She observed that most devotees now prefer to purchase and light their candles directly at the Basilica del Santo Niño, bypassing the stalls entirely. While unable to cite exact figures from last year, Siase confirmed that the number of buyers has visibly and worryingly decreased.
From Bogo City, hat vendor Juana Brigadas has been forced to take drastic measures. To attract customers, she has slashed her prices by half, reducing hats from P50 to just P25. Her primary goal is now to earn enough to cover her transportation fare back home.
Coping with the Festival Slowdown
"The income is really slow this year," Brigadas shared on Saturday, January 17, 2026. "Since I started selling this morning, I have only sold six hats." Despite the quiet start to the festivities, she holds onto hope that sales will surge on the main festival day itself.
The vendors' plight underscores an unexpected economic dip within the otherwise vibrant festival atmosphere. Their experience points to shifting devotees' habits and possibly the layout of facilities impacting traditional vendor economies.
Devotee City: A Shelter for Pilgrims
The Devotee City 2026 facility, which officially opened on Friday, January 16, is a project initiated by the Cebu City Government. It is designed to provide free, temporary shelter for pilgrims arriving from outside the city to participate in the annual festivities honoring the Señor Santo Niño.
According to Avelynn Rudinas, the head organizer of Devotee City, the facility is well-equipped to accommodate guests. Amenities include:
- 30 container-van sleeping quarters
- Food provisions
- Sleeping kits provided by the Cebu Provincial Government
While the shelter provides crucial logistical support, the economic challenge faced by the vendor-residents highlights a separate aspect of festival planning—ensuring their livelihood opportunities are also sustained.
