Rama allows Akrho to dance in parade

Cebu acting mayor Michael Rama has allowed the Alpha Kappa Rho fraternity to participate as a dancing contingent in the Grand Mardi Gras on January 18, the finale of the Sinulog festivities.

The fraternity yesterday sought permission through a formal letter request, promising that they will be orderly during the parade just like in the previous years. The fraternity has been joining the Mardi Gras but only as a parade contingent.

“This is to show our devotion to the Sto. Niño, so we have street dancers and a float,” said Richard Buscayno, over all regional president of Akhro, in a meeting with Rama yesterday.

Buscayno said they will name their contingent “Tribu Akrho” and will field up to 80 dancers. Their choreographer is reportedly a former member of the “Landonian Tribe” that the fraternity has been sponsoring during the Sinulog in recent years.

“There was no problem with us in the parade in the past two years so we expect there will also be no problem now,” Buscayno said.

The group’s funding would reportedly come from fraternity members based abroad, including those in Saudi Arabia, United States of America, and Korea.

Rama said he has no problem with the group joining as a dancing contingent as long as they fulfill the requirements set by the Sinulog Foundation Incorporated.

“We always stop these groups, so why not inculcate in them…hey, you are a part of Sinulog! So let this be a challenge to the PNP and the rest of the crowd controllers,” Rama said.

Councilor Augustus Pe, head of the City Council’s committee on public safety, said the city will assign two policemen to escort the fraternity during the parade.

“We gave them cops, of their choice pa ha, para walay gubot,” Pe said.

SFI will come up with a final list of contingents for the Mardi Gras today. —Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO