Gwen: Governor’s Cup is not my own fiesta

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday branded the headline of Cebu Daily News last Sunday, entitled “Gwen gets own fiesta” as very creative, fabricated, malicious and irresponsible journalism.

“It is not my own fiesta, it’s not a fiesta either.  It is a horse show competition,” the governor said.

In a press conference yesterday called by the governor together with Department of Tourism regional director Dawnie Roa and organizers of Cebu Equine Owners, Breeders, Sportsmen Association (CEOBSA), the organizer of the Kabayo Festival, now called Governor’s Cup 2008, admitted that they were surprised by the paper’s report that the organizers were “shocked” about the name change.

CEOBSA organizers headed by its founding president Anton Quisumbing, event organizer Jenny Franco, president Jake Mendez and director Nelson Tudtud attended the press conference to clarify the newspaper report.

“I have not talked to any of the CDN reporters or to any of them,” Franco said.

“CDN, in a dull Saturday with no headline, has decided to be creative and fabricate a malicious story,” the governor said, “magpalit unya ko og tambal sa suya, usa ka truck kay naa koy hatagan.”

Roa said she was surprised when she read: “on the side of the DOT, the change of the festival’s name does pose some awkwardness since the Kabayo Festival is already being promoted by the DOT in its calendars and marketing material as an annual Cebu event and a major festival”.  

Roa said that she was not even interviewed about this especially the word “awkwardness” which is very inappropriate, adding DOT is just a cooperating agency.

She added the Governor’s Cup 2008 was already scheduled in their February 2008 calendar of festival and this has appeared in three national dailies yesterday in an advertisement.  The change of name was already approved last January 22.

“Is CDN now talking itself on behalf of DOT?” the governor asked.  Quisumbing also denied saying: “worry that the event would be used to promote political careers”.

The governor, who refused to admit that she was upset by the article said “ I don’t need an event to promote me. Excuse me. It’s the people who are promoting me. I don’t need to promote myself”.

The Governor’s Cup is a rodeo-style competition and gathering of horse enthusiasts that draws breeders and sportsmen from various provinces in the country.  It is scheduled for February 15 to 17.

 Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes also said yesterday the renaming of the Kabayo Festival to Governor’s Cup is fair for Garcia as Mandaue city’s contribution to the event is only minimal.

He said the city’s assistance to the festival is only to host dinner for all the participants. 

Cortes added Mandaue’s being chosen as the site of the Kabayo festival will be enough as it will be a “plus factor” in promoting the city.  — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon and Flor Z. Perolina/BRP