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Sunday, January 08, 2006
Cabaero: Ghost of Sinulogs past
By Nini B. Cabaero
This week marks the 26th year of the Sinulog celebration in honor of the Sto. Nino de Cebu. Through the years, promises have been fulfilled and others broken in the road to a better celebration the next time around.
It was last year when officials said the conduct of the celebration made Cebu live up to its name as host of "the country's festival of all festivals." Everything went as planned except for some kinks that did not however disrupt the overall conduct. Bomb threats were received and these turned out to be hoaxes; warring fraternities Alpha Kappa Rho and Tau Gamma kept the police on their toes, past newspaper reports said.
Promises were made to ensure no such troubles would arise in the 2006 fiesta.
Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama, Sinulog Foundation chairman, said in a Jan. 17, 2005 report he believed the celebration and the peace and order aspect could be enhanced to make it better in 2006. Sinulog promises culled from the Sun.Star Cebu archive of news reports:
a. Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said the Department of Tourism would work to ensure adequate hotel rooms to accommodate more tourists in 2006. (Jan. 17, 2005 report)
b. Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña promised out-of-town contingents better accommodations in 2006 after two contingents complained last year they were made to leave the Abellana National School because they were disrupting classes. This incident embarrassed the Sinulog Foundation who had invited these out-of-town participants here. Osmeña said he would convert barangay or school gymnasiums into temporary quarters for contingents. (Jan. 18, 2005 report)
c. Osmeña said he would consult the public on some improvements he planned to carry out in the 2006 celebration. (Jan. 18, 2005 report)
d. There is no doubt quality of presentations should take precedence over the number of contingents. Mayor Osmeña said that, to hold on to the Sinulog's reputation as a national event, the City Government will focus on making the parade look grander on television since it will be aired live on international channels for eight hours. (Jan. 14, 2005 report)
Every after a Sinulog celebration, officials make suggestions on how to improve the next one. This list of promises is also a short checklist to measure how the celebration this year would fare against statements made last year.
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My Sinulog. The Sun.Star website revived its annual tradition of celebrating Cebu's fiesta with the Internet world. Cebuanos can witness the celebration and interact with others in the website special at www.sunstar.com.ph/specials/sinulog2006/
Click on the "My Sinulog" button to post your Sinulog experiences and memories of past celebrations or to read testimonies of others.
(ninicab@sunstar.com.ph)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 8, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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