SFI officials ask Garcia to dance in Sinulog Grand Parade

CEBU, Philippines - Officials of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) have personally requested suspended Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to dance during the Sinulog Grand Parade on January 20 as she has been doing for the past eight years.

SFI executive director Ricky Ballesteros, project director Dolores Suzara and promotion and marketing director Anna Marie Conejero visited Garcia at the Capitol yesterday.

Ever since Garcia became governor, dancing in the Sinulog Grand Parade has been her yearly offering of thanksgiving to Santo Niño and for the continued protection of Cebu. 

“I am praying with all my heart then na ma-resolved na ang kaso na ito na ngayo’y nakasalalay sa Court of Appeals upang everything will be back to normal and we can celebrate the Sinulog as one people both the city and the province joining hands and all Cebuanos united in thanksgiving to our protector, the Sr. Sto. Niño,” Garcia said before the local and national media after their closed door meeting.

The CA 12th Division in Manila is set to hear, on January 10, the oral argument of the petition for temporary restraining order filed by Garcia.

Should there be no TRO issued by CA, Garcia refrained from commenting further except by saying that she has faith in Santo Niño that eventually all of these things shall be resolved.

Garcia has been dancing in the opening and grand finale of the Sinulog Grand Parade at the Cebu City Sports Center with various town festivals representing the provincial government.

 Ballesteros told reporters that they wanted Garcia to dance with the Rosquillos Festival of Liloan town being the 2012 Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Festivals grand champion.

He said that the Rosquillos Festival is something to look forward to because the concept is fresh and the production, the costumes, even the music, are relevant to this year’s Sinulog theme.

Ballesteros will also be asking Liloan Mayor Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco to perform in the Sinulog Festival.

 Ballesteros expressed that whatever will happen, they are still hoping that the suspended governor could still dance in the Sinulog.

  However, SFI is eyeing Rizzini Alexis Gomez as a prospect to dance for the finale and portray Queen Juana if Garcia won’t make it.

Gomez represented the Sinulog Festival in the Aliwan festival and just recently won Miss Tourism International.

Ballesteros said that they will appreciate if acting Governor Agnes Magpale will release financial assistance for the Sinulog 2013 like what Garcia has been doing in the past years.

“Whatever assistance that the province can give to the SFI we will appreciate it very much, di man mi mangayo og pila but anything like services kay sa Sinulog sa Kabataan, grand parade, and other contingents from different municipalities need transportation and food,” Ballesteros added. — (FREEMAN)