Saturday, January 20, 2007 Politicos told: Don’t use fiesta to campaign
WITH the elections in May, expect senatorial candidates in tomorrow’s Sinulog grand parade, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said.
They will be among the expected guests, who will include at least 10 Japanese consuls who stayed behind after the 12th Asean summit to watch the Sinulog, he said.
Sinulog organizers, however, have warned politicians and celebrities against distributing election materials during the event.
Sinulog Foundation Inc. Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros said they will not allow election candidates to hang streamers bearing their names, even if these carry the name and image of the Sto. Niño or the Sinulog logo.
No propaganda
Other political propaganda materials like leaflets and papers with names and photos of the candidates also cannot be distributed either at the grandstand or the parade route.
“It’s an election year so we expect them to attend the festivities. Some have even asked us if they can hang their streamers but we will not allow it,” he said.
Ballesteros said all support personnel who will be on the streets have already been instructed to call the attention of those who will insist on distributing campaign materials.
Candidates, politicians and celebrities will also be required to have Sinulog identification cards or tickets issued by the Sinulog office.
In previous grand parades, election candidates joined some of the contingents in the street dancing. Some of them had celebrities in their group.
Hospitality
Osmeña said that Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, for instance, already communicated and asked to speak with him. “I told him we can meet at the Sinulog grandstand,” he said.
The mayor said that out of hospitality and not necessarily because he is supporting them, he will accommodate national candidates who will come.
“I’m just being hospitable. Don’t read between the lines,” he said.
He said, though, that he is supporting Loren Legarda and Chavit Singson in their campaigns. He said he has always supported Legarda, but had to stay behind President Arroyo in the last national elections because Arroyo was an ally.
Legarda was supposed to serve as judge of last Thursday’s Miss Cebu competition but failed to come because she had to be with her son.
Celebrities Angel Locsin, Bea Alonzo and Mattheo Evans are just among the stars who will join the parade tomorrow.
At the Cebu City Sports Center tonight, the Sinulog Festival Queen will also be chosen from 18 female lead performers of the different contingents.
The festival queen will receive P30,000 in cash and gift items during the coronation night, which the public can watch for free.
Tomorrow, public schools in Cebu City will not hold classes after the City Schools Division declared Jan. 22 a rest day and non-working holiday for public schools and its offices.
The division is leaving it to the discretion of the private school principals whether or not they will hold classes the day after the Sinulog grand parade.
At Cebu City Hall, public information officer Nagiel Bañacia said it will be a regular working day for all City Government offices.
In the Province, Department of Education Provincial Chief Recaredo Borgonia said there will be classes on Monday except for schools that sent contingents to the Sinulog mardi gras.
Schools with contingents to the Sinulog need to hold make-up classes if they can’t comply with the required number of schooldays. This year, the required number of schooldays is 210. (RHM/LCR/MBG)
