Mayor compares Olympic, Jam Step crowd

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia cited the Olympics’ crowd to prove that the 87,700 estimated participants during the Jam Step was unrealistic and unbelievable.

Jam Step was a project spearheaded by Bacolod City Lone District Representative Anthony Golez Jr. and partner Jewel Mae Lobaton-Pimentel.

It gathered students in Bacolod City at the Old Bacolod Airport to simultaneously perform an aerobic exercise last February 12, 2012.

Leonardia said compared the crowd during the grand opening of the London Olympics last weekend and compared it with crowd gathered by Golez and Pimentel during the Jam Step activity last February.

The mayor said international news agencies estimated the crowd at the Olympic opening ceremony as only about 80,000 while Golez claimed that Jam Step, which was held at the old Bacolod airport, gathered an even bigger crowd of 87,700 people.

Golez could have been better than the London Olympic organizers, said Leonardia who added that he finds Golez’s claim as deceiving.

"He should stop lying because he is no longer the spokesman of Malacañang,” the mayor said of Golez.

"Be faithful to the truth because lying is habit forming," Leonardia added.

The 87,700 computation of Golez was an embarrassment to Bacolod, said Leonardia.

“The number of students in Bacolod, both high school and elementary, is only 56,000. That's already perfect attendance. But only the Grades 4, 5 and 6 students participated in the Jam Step. So how can it reach Golez’s estimate of 87,700?” said Leoanrdia.

If Golez can prove his figures, Leonardia said he is willing to congratulate the lawmaker. Golez was asked for his comment but he preferred to ignore the brickbat.