|
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Wenceslao: Sinulog and politicians
By Bong O. Wenceslao
One question that should be asked in this, another Sinulog week, is why the Sinulog Foundation was set up in the first place. For a while, I thought this was to ensure that politicians won’t use the festivities for politicking or, in the case of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, subject the activity to his whims or use it for his personal wars.
But apparently I was wrong. Because the prevailing setup just can’t allow the Foundation to work independently from City Hall gods. For one, its top official has been the vice mayor (Renato Osmeña for many years and then Michael Rama for two terms). Also, the Foundation is heavily dependent on City Hall’s financial support.
Actually, there is no problem to the setup if only top City Hall officials will have the delicadeza not to interfere with the Foundation’s decisions, or at least make that interference in the form of suggestions and not orders. Recently, however, that is not happening. The mayor has made some important decisions for the Foundation.
Consider last year. During the Sinulog presentation at the Cebu City Sports Center, the mayor allowed then senatorial bet Richard Gordon, his good friend, to speak, thus injecting politics into the affair. That may not have made a difference in Gordon’s eventually winning a Senate seat, but it was an awkward moment for the Foundation.
This year, the mayor ordered the cancellation of the city’s Sinulog sa Kabataan, an activity the Foundation was poised to hold and for which many schools already spent effort and resources. Officials of the Foundation immediately turned meek lambs, telling the public they would ask the mayor to reconsider—a face-saving act, really.
Two other awkward moments for the Foundation. The first is the exclusion of the Cebu Pop Musicfest, a project of Osmeña’s “enemy” Rep. Eduardo Gullas, from the list of Sinulog activities and the threats issued against radioman Bobby Nalzaro, another “enemy” of the mayor, on the coverage of Sunday’s Sinulog Grand Parade.
Indeed, the Sinulog has become Cebu’s biggest annual activity. But it cannot become truly world-class if its organizers cannot be independent from the dictates of leaders who are still mired in parochial politics and petty personal conflicts.
TEXTREAX. Despite the change in my cell phone number, some Textreax contributors did manage to send in their views. Here’s one from Cristian Malaki:
“Mayor Osmeña made two Freudian slips this week. First was when he admitted that he inspired the vigilante-style killings of suspected criminals. Second was on his closure of the Lorega abattoir when he was quoted as saying that he ‘will not allow the corruption of the mayor’s office to be involved.’ Sakto. Way labot ang Lorega sa corruption sa mayor’s office.”
(khanwens@yahoo.com/ 0927-2055064)
(January 13, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
