Sugat sa Guadalupe candidates warned not to campaign

CEBU, Philippines - There is strictly no campaigning at the Easter Sunday celebration of the most populated parish in Cebu City.

Being an election year, organizers of the fourth Sugat sa Guadalupe clearly emphasized their no-campaigning policy, direct or indirect, during Easter Sunday dawn.

Local campaign officially starts March 29, two days before the activity.

The Lenten highlight usually gathers about 7,000 Catholics at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Cebu City.

“It has already been agreed during our preparatory meetings that no politician will be allowed to talk up stage,” Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) president Ricardo delos Reyes told reporters.

While they may be allowed to sponsor the event, the PPC president clarified that no other exposure except mentioning of names at the acknowledgement portion is allowed.

“Apart from that, their names may be included at the event tarpaulin and audio visual presentation but we will never allow them to put up campaign posters inside the parish premises,” delos Reyes added.

Distribution of any campaign materials is also specifically prohibited.

“We have already designated individuals whose task is to apprehend candidates and supporters giving away leaflets, shirts, fans, and other campaign materials,” he explained.

However, candidates who will grace the event can be allowed to wear shirts bearing their name and aspired position as long as no hand shaking and the like happens.

Sugat sa Guadalupe director Algin Abaquita assured that as a radio news personality and at the same time heading the production, he will not allow any politician to grab the opportunity.

“If they do that, I will definitely not let it pass and broadcast them over the radio,” Abaquita stressed saying candidates should respect this solemn religious event.

Sugat sa Guadalupe includes 110 actors who will portray Biblical and fictional characters at the three-part, two hours and a half long production including seasoned and neophyte stage performers.

For the second time, television news personality Lou Anne Mae Rondina will play as a “lady angel” accompanying the children angels.

This year’s theme is based on the celebration of the Year of Faith, “enhancement of” and “keeping” the faith, Abaquita said.

The activity aims to raise funds for the construction of parish convent.

Last year, their performance contributed P208,000, from the total solicitation and donation money of P453,000 and expenses amounting to P248,000.

The P17.9 million construction project started in 2011 has so far paid its contractor a total of P3.8 million.

While the construction is targeted to finish this year, the contractor does not pressure the parish to pay the remaining P14.1 million balance payment, delos Reyes said.  (FREEMAN)