Palma: Instead of lewd shows, pray and reflect during Lent

A FEW days before the Holy Week, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma appealed to Cebuanos to observe propriety and refrain from holding lewd shows and bikini contests.

The Lenten season, he said, is a time for prayer, reflection and sacrifice, and not for indecent shows and activities.

“I hope that this being a season of prayer and reflection, we should try to appreciate the many shows that are religious in nature. If people will do such (lewd) shows, there are other times of the year for that, right? Why do it during Holy Week when everybody knows this is really meant for reflection and prayer?” Palma said.

In the town of San Francisco in Camotes Islands, the mayor assured that there will be no bikini shows, just live band music, during Holy week.

In an interview after his birthday mass at the Archbishop’s residence chapel yesterday, he reminded the public that there is a proper time for non-religious activities and shows, such as bikini contests and beauty pageants.

Palma’s reminder came after a fashion show for gays in Barangay Basak Pardo, Cebu City provoked tension between Rep. Tomas Osmena (Cebu City south district) and village chief Dave Tumulak.

Propriety

Tumulak was reportedly chided by Osmena for stopping the fashion show, which the barangay official found lewd.

The show was only allowed to proceed after the organizers changed the show’s format into a variety show.

“Observe also even the propriety of the season. There are times when we can do other cultural presentations and even beauty pageants. But the Holy Week, for me, should be a time for reflection and prayer, religious activities and an effort to be close to the Lord,” Palma said.

During Holy Week observance in the past years, bikini shows and dance parties were popular in beach resorts in Bantayan Island, but these were also ordered stopped by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Ordinance

A provincial ordinance prohibits the holding of bikini shows and other indecent events during Holy Week, which Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale said will be strictly enforced this year.

Article 1, Section 5 of the Women Development Code of Cebu disallows beauty contests, which tend to commodify, abuse, humiliate and treat women as sex objects. The
provision applies to schools, communities and barangays.

San Francisco Mayor Aly Arquillano said they never had bikini shows even though beach resorts in the area are fully booked for the Lenten holidays.

But he said the Municipal Government will allow the annual live band music concert on Holy Thursday, Mar. 28, and Black Saturday.

This would be the third year for San Francisco to mark Holy Week with a live band music concert.

The mayor assured the safety and security of tourists during the event. He said the Lenten holidays provide additional revenues for the town through tourism.