Gwen not invited, but not barred from Sinulog

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia can still dance in the upcoming Sinulog grand parade if she wants, according to Sinulog executive director Ricky Ballesteros.

While no formal invitation letter was sent to the governor, Ballesteros made it clear that they will not bar any participants from the province from participating in the festival if they will include Gwen in their contingent.

In the Sinulog grand parade last January, Garcia joined the Tostado Festival dancers from Santander, Cebu who participated as a guest contingent.

“Mao man go’y rule namo ‘ron nga dili mag-invite ug mga politicians, dili man lang si Gwen maoy wala namo imbitaha,” Ballesteros said.

The Sinulog executive director added that aside from not sending invitation, they also refrained from giving a solicitation letter to the provincial government.

For this year, Capitol donated P2 million for the annual festival and was considered as one of the sponsors of the festivities.

Ballesteros, however, said that if the provincial government will donate again for the next year’s Sinulog, they will definitely accept the donation.

He clarified though that tourist spots in the province will be included in the See Cebu in the Carousel Route even if the province will no longer be one of their sponsors.

The Sinulog executive director clearly stated that Mayor Tomas Osmeña has no involvement in coming up with their decisions.

Osmeña earlier threatened to ban the governor from joining the Sinulog festivities upon learning that Jonah John Rodriguez sat in the VIP area of Cebu City Sports Center.

Rodriguez was convicted in 2006 for sending threatening text messages to the mayor’s wife Margot.

During the Sinulog festival last January the mayor was in the United States for chemotherapy sessions for his urinary bladder cancer.

The mayor thought that Rodriguez was part of the governor’s party but it was clarified later that he was not part of Gwen’s group.

The mayor though did not withdraw his threat to the governor but he clarified that if Gwen will participate in Sinulog 2010, she has to follow the system.

“Kung ganahan sila, they have to apply, mao na ang sistema, kay sa last Sinulog, sa ilang stance, mura ug ila na ang Sinulog, equal billing sa siyudad, dili oy,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña will lead the Sinulog festivities next month after he failed to attend the said celebration last January. — Elly Bolonos/BRP (THE FREEMAN)