Sinulog
(Cebuano word for "carried along by the current") is believed to have originated from a ritual dance for a pagan deity who was fished out from the sea. It was later Hispanized and transformed into a dance of worship for the Santo Niño. There are many types of sinulog dances. The simplest, least acculturated, and perhaps the purest form of ritual prayer is what has been called the tindera sinulog. Performed on the patio of the Santo Niño Basilica, it is danced by women candle peddlers on behalf of devotees who buy candles from them as an offering for petitions or for thanksgiving. Performed to a silent, resilient beat, the dancer performs this supplicatory dance with no formal costume or audience.