City gymnasiums as Sinulog venues

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is amenable to the idea to use gymnasiums as venue for performances during the Sinulog Festival due to the unfavorable weather condition.

Rama even suggested alternative venues if downpours due to the low pressure area in Mindanao will continue until Sunday.

These venues are the gymnasiums of  Sawang Calero, San Nicolas and Tinago and the Cebu Coliseum.

However, Sinulog Foundation Inc. executive director Ricky Ballesteros said contestants will have a hard time adjusting to smaller venues because of their big props.

Ballesteros said as of the moment, there has been no change in the venue, explaining that there were downpours during the past editions of the Sinulog.

"Uwan-uwan man gihapon sa mga miaging tuig. So as long as wala'y bagyo okay lang gihapon. Padayon gihapon ta sa City Sports Complex," Ballesteros said.

Ballesteros, meanwhile, said the winners of Sinulog sa Lalawigan and Dakbayan have a big chance to win this Sunday, just like the consistent winners Placer, Masbate, Plaridel, Lanao and Tangub.

"They passed the standards of the Sinulog Festival and based on their performance naa gyod sila'y laban," he said.

Days before the festival, some of the participating contingents have already arrived.

The contingent from Placer, Masbate arrived yesterday while the Tangub dancers are expected to arrive tomorrow.

As of the moment, the Sinulog foundation does not have the final list of participating contingents.

Capitol float

The Sinulog float of the provincial government will cost P40, 000.

Provincial Information Office head Ethel Natera said that the float will be carrying a "bahay kubo," which resembles rebuilding effort of the province in typhoon-ravaged areas in Northern Cebu.

"We want the people to know that we are here for them to help them in rebuilding their lives," Natera said.

However, Natera disclosed that no officials will be riding the float. "Kung kinsa tong mokuyog, magsunod lang."

The last time Capitol commissioned a float was 10 years ago when it won second place during the grand parade.

Natera reiterated that the province will have a simple float but said Capitol will have no contingents for the grand parade. - With Michael H. Braga/LPM