Pinyasan Festival ready to roll in Daet, Camarines Norte

The Katrina Halili-Dr. Hayden Kho sex video controversy is getting uglier and uglier each day. A lot of names had been dragged into the issue like Rufa Mae Quinto, Bea Alonzo, and would you believe, even KC Concepcion, who’s still in the United States with her megastar mom Sharon Cuneta for a concert tour.

The malicious rumor said that KC also has a video and many people have been waiting to hear KC say her piece regarding the matter. But since KC is still in the US and won’t be back soon, we tried to get the reaction, instead, of a person close to her. We sent this person a text message, asking if she thinks KC would give a comment on the issue.

“Deadma kami [We’re ignoring it] because it’s not true,” was the reply we got. Then we told her of the reactions we read on the Internet (some are downright ridiculous), like this one which said that when Sharon learned that KC had a video, she got mad and slapped her daughter.

How can that person who posted this item on the net sound so sure that such thing happened? He or she made it sound like he or she was present when the supposed slapping incident occurred. Certainly no such thing happened because KC is not the type who’d make “patol” or dignify something that’s so absurd. That comment is not only ridiculous, but also malicious.

That’s the reason why KC’s camp refuses to comment on the matter of this sex video thing. “We don’t need to say something because what they are saying is ridiculous and far from truth. We don’t want to dignify it. Ewwww.”

It’s a good thing the Belo Medical group had issued an official statement on the matter:

“In the light of the recent rumors surrounding actress KC Concepcion and the Belo Medical Group, we would like to categorically state that Ms. Concepcion has never visited any of our branches at any time.

“Likewise, we wish to reiterate that the Belo Medical Group has never used any device – whether video or audio – to secretly record the activities of its patients. We challenge anyone to present proof of this absurd allegation, confident that no such evidence exists.

“There is no logical reason why a business of our size and track record and reputation would ever invest in such a worthless endeavour. More importantly, we value and uphold the privacy of our clients.

“We strongly condemn all those responsible for spreading this harmful gossip.” The statement came from Leah Gatdula, Corporate Information Manager of the Belo group.

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“Pinyasan ’09”—the 17th edition of the most colorful festival of Daet, Camarines Norte that commemorates the sweet Queen Formosa pineapple—is set to kick off on Monday, June 15, and will run till June 24.

This yearly event is produced through the auspices of the municipality of Daet, led by its mayor Tito Sarte Sarion, and held in cooperation with the various communities and organizations in that city. This 2009, the organizers have signed up with top-notch media and marketing communications Media Trade, Inc. to bring further attention to the festival.

In the following Q&A, Marco Paulo Delfinado, Municipal Tourism Officer of Daet, reveals exciting plans for this year’s “Pinyasan” Festival.

Question: Are there celebrities participating in the Daet Pinyasan Festival? If so, who are they and what is the extent of each one’s participation?

Answer: Edu Manzano will be the special guest at the Pinyasan Offroad Competition and the guest host at the Miss Daet beauty pageant. Eri Neeman of the cable channel Cinema One will be the main host of that pageant. Other celebrities include Jun “Mr. Shooli” Urbano, a Daet native, guesting in the float competition; radio and TV personality Winnie Cordero will cover the first day of the festival; model and actress Bing Pimentel will be in Daet on June 21. Senator Francis Pangilinan will also visit on June 23. The cast of Trip na Trip – Catherine de Castro, Uma Khouny, and Jayson Gainza will come to Daet for the fourth time and shoot an episode of their show. 

What do you hope to accomplish now that the Pinyasan Festival is going full-blast and is celebrated on a bigger scale (as compared to its past editions)?

With innovations and new enhancements factored in, we hope that Daet will soon gain the distinction of becoming a global tourist destination. Our historical landmarks, vast potential for tourism, and rich cultural heritage could open new doors to Daet as it moves towards becoming the Philippines’s fiesta city. 

What is the centerpiece of this year’s celebration of the Pinyasan Festival?

The centerpiece of the celebration is the people of Daet – their warmth and sweetness. Daeteños are generally beautiful, inside and out. 

This year, you launched a website for the Pinyasan Festival. What has been the general reaction of the Daeteños to the website?

The website launch has earned positive responses from both the Daeteños in Daet itself and those scattered around the world. The site has given them the chance to check out the activities for this year’s festival and be updated on Pinyasan. It has created the impression that Daet is a part of the globally competitive world. 

How are the preparations for the 2009 Pinyasan Festival?

The preparations are going smoothly. There have been some changes in the program of activities because of unexpected circumstances, and we have already come up with a newly-revised, comprehensive new program that is expected to meet the goals of Pinyasan 2009.