I was told by a friend to write about the recent opening of the ASEAN Summit, where the Lumad Basakanon Dancers performed in front of an international audience. However, to everyone’s dismay, they danced the Sinulog sans the presence of the Santo Niño and without even yelling “Pit Señor” during their routine. This disturbed many Cebuanos who have grown fond of the dance and the tradition that comes with it. What should have been a chance to showcase our culture, which is heavily intertwined with religion, was downscaled to a mere dance presentation. I heard from the grapevine that the director wanted to respect visitors who are predominantly Buddhists and Muslims.
The word “respect” transcends different dimensions, but there is also a level of respect where we are able to meet halfway with both parties. If the point was indeed to avoid offending others, then I would like to believe that there were gaps in the communication process in order for that to be achieved properly. Presenting one’s culture is not always understood right away, even with the basic knowledge we have sourced from our years of basic education. It would take a leveling off or an explanation of context to set things in the right direction.
To me, that was what was lacking in this discourse. The dancing group or the organizers failed to maximize those few seconds of introduction to properly explain what the Sinulog was and who it was mainly for. Our visitors come to our country to take in the sights and culture on the sidelines of the main summit and related meetings. They want to know who we are and what we believe in. At that instance, we may have failed. It was a missed opportunity to show our identity to our neighbors.
While it was a minor hiccup, the ASEAN Summit may have opened more doors for Cebu. The local government unit said that they have received countless requests for international events to be held in the area. This would hopefully boost the tourism and hospitality sectors, which had previously been badly affected by the pandemic and the present-day oil crisis. It would also bring in more investments and, hopefully, more jobs, especially as the Mactan Economic Zone recently laid off garment workers. This might have been a game-changer for many families who continue to struggle with rising costs and economic uncertainty.
Yes, there are gaps in the hosting of the summit. There were many issues, both told and untold, in different discourses. However, I’d like to remember it as one where we did our best. It was not perfect, but it was the best we could do under the circumstances. The smile on the faces of our foreign friends who left Cebu with happy hearts is something we cannot trade for anything. It may be a momentary achievement, but it is one that remains fulfilling to the heart. We are unsure if, in the next rotation of hosting, Cebu will again be part of the picture. This year definitely, albeit exhausting and draining, is one for the books.