CALAMBA, Laguna, Philippines — There were no scantily clad girls performing a lewd dance number during the gathering here yesterday of members of the Nacionalista Party (NP) and their allies in the Liberal Party (LP).
Instead, organizers entertained the audience with wholesome song-and-dance numbers performed by local artists who hail from the province.
The performers served as the front act for the oath taking of new members of the NP, a political ally of LP.
The visit of LP officials to Sta. Cruz town last week stirred controversy after members of the Playgirls performed a sexy dance number during the 58th birthday celebration of Laguna Rep. Benjamin Agarao in the presence of minors.
Metro Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino, who was then being considered as a senatorial candidate of the LP-led administration coalition, reportedly sent the dancers.
Tolentino has apologized for the incident and has withdrawn from the LP senatorial ticket.
Laguna Gov. Ramil Hernandez said there was no need to remind organizers about the need to keep the entertainment numbers wholesome.
“We don’t need to discuss those things anymore because the event is formal,” Hernandez said when asked if there was a conscious effort by organizers to prevent a repeat of the Sta. Cruz incident.
“It is a given,” he added.
The performers during the NP oath taking were young dancers from San Pedro called V Force, “The Voice of the Philippines” contestant Rammone Rodriguez and singers Ronald Celebre and Mamshel de Castro.