Guadalupe’s Sugat raises tiny amount

CEBU, Philippines - The Sugat sa Guadalupe 2013 raised a smaller amount to help finish the parish convent construction compared to last year’s show.

Parish Pastoral Council president Ricardo Delos Reyes revealed that while they were able to raise P208,000 after last year’s performance, this year they were only able to raise P50,000.

In 2012, a total of P453,000 was obtained from donation envelopes while expenses amounted to P248,000.

This year, however, the “Sugat” performances only raised P270,000 in total solicitations with P220,000 in expenses.

He pointed to lack of time for solicitations as the main reason for this major decline.

“We reduced our solicitation-donors from P1,000 to P500. We expected more from the lower amount but we failed.  Then we ran out of time to prepare for the higher amount,” Delos Reyes told The FREEMAN, adding that 40 days to prepare was really not enough.

Sugat production director Aljin Abaquita shared the same sentiments and suggested a longer preparation time.

“Gamay ra ang panahon sa pagpangandam. Angay nga sayuhon ug andam sa parish (next year). Mulihok gyud tanan sakop sa simbahan labi na ang community,” Abaquita said.

One factor that contributed to lower funds was that some of the event’s major contributors were out of the country, the PPC president added.

The P17.9-million parish convent construction project started in 2011 and 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. 

The Sugat sa Guadalupe drew about 7,000 spectators last Easter Sunday dawn at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

GMA News anchor Lou Anne Mae Rondina reprised her role as an angel for the second year.  (FREEMAN)