No politicking: Sugat organizers to candidates

PREPARATIONS are ongoing for one of the highlights of the upcoming Holy Week, the “Sugat sa Guadalupe,” at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

Although it’s two weeks away, organizers warned candidates in the May midterm elections not to take advantage of the activity, which is expected to draw thousands of devotees.

In a news conference yesterday, Sugat play director and radio personality Aljin Abaquita said candidates are prohibited from distributing flyers, T-shirts and other campaign materials.

For incumbent officials who will grace the event, Abaquita said they will be acknowledged but they won’t be allowed to speak.

Parish Pastoral Council president Ricardo delos Reyes said they want to keep the solemnity and religiosity of the annual activity.

“They should just watch if they want to watch. There should be no politicking of any sort,” he said in Cebuano.

Delos Reyes admitted they cannot stop politicians from wearing T-shirts announcing their candidacy.

“Well, as long as they don’t distribute T-shirts,” he said in Cebuano.

Dramatizations

The Commission on Elections scheduled the start of the campaign period for local candidates on March 29. The Sugat sa Guadalupe will be held on March 31.

The traditional Sugat, or the meeting of the resurrected Jesus and Mary, signals the start of the Easter Sunday celebration.

Abaquita said the Sugat, which will start at midnight, will showcase several dramatizations. One of which will be the play “Gakson Ko Ang Kamatayon Alang sa Bagong Kinabuhi.”

The play has 110 performers, he said.