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Thursday, January 19, 2006
Wenceslao: Basakanon’s complaint
By Bong O. Wenceslao
The issue on the crashing of the Lumad Basakanon contingent out of the list of winners in the free interpretation category of the Sinulog grand parade simply refuses to die down. Yesterday, I heard former Cebu City Councilor George Rama, head of the Basak-San Nicolas contingent, explain further over dyRF the basis of their complaint.
(Incidentally, the revitalized dyRF has become one of my favorite radio stations in the morning, with such commentators as the veteran Malou Guanzon, Ricky Rama Poca, Divine Marcial, Fred Quiño and even Sun.Star’s Dennes Tabar and Joy Tumulak. They try to be high-level and objective, unlike many other broadcasters in Cebu.)
I still agree with the contention of Sinulog Foundation officials that the Lumad Basakanon contingent should not have used wheels in its routine (its carabao prop moved on rollers). If reports that one official of the Lumad Basakanon contingent said “basin makalusot” is true then the group was risking a sanction, which is wrong.
But there are disturbing points in Rama’s ranting. One is the claim that Sinulog Foundation’s Ricky Ballesteros joined the board of judges’ deliberation and probably played a part in the decision to penalize the Basak contingent. The other is Rama’s insinuation that their penalty was not just 20 points deduction but virtual disqualification.
Ballesteros, in a radio dyLA interview, said he joined the deliberation only after he was asked by the board of judges to comment about the rules of the contest.
But what he did not say was how fair were his comments on Lumad Basakanon’s infraction, considering that, according to Rama, another group also used wheels in its props but won.
As for the score, I agree that for the interest of transparency, the Foundation should show how much the Basak contingent got in relation to those of the winners in the free interpretation category. Ballesteros said that there is a rule that disallows such a move, but maybe an exception should be considered given the seriousness of the charge.
In the end, however, this should be a learning experience not only for the Basak contingent but also for the other participants of the Sinulog grand parade. They should follow the rules to the letter or rue over it later. As for the Sinulog Foundation officials, they should allow the judges to do their thing without subtly swaying their decision to one side or another.
E-MAIL. The articles written about the Fiesta Señor has, as expected, invited the interest of readers, especially fellow Filipinos longing to visit the old country.
One of them is Nonilo Abella, who is in the United States:
“I just read your article about the Fiesta Señor. If you don’t mind, please tell me the date of the next fiesta. I promised the Santo Niño that I will make a pilgrimage next year and perhaps also see the Sinulog on the side.”
Nilo, the Fiesta Señor falls on the third Sunday of January, Philippine time.
(khanwens@yahoo.com/ 0915-9228651)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 19, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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