Thursday, January 03, 2008 30 Cambodian dancers to grace Sinulog parade
DRESSED in their traditional costumes, at least 30 Cambodian dancers will grace this year’s Sinulog grand parade, making them the first foreign delegation to compete in the street dancing.
But because they will not reach the required minimum number of dancers, the Cambodians will be joining a contingent from a private school in Bogo City. They will compete in the free interpretation category.
Sinulog 2008 project director Dolores Suzara said yesterday that 30 dancers from Cambodia have already confirmed their attendance in the Jan. 20 grand parade. They are expecting 20 others to join, but it will still not meet the 60 dancers required to form a contingent.
“They will all be dressed in authentic Cambodian costumes so this is something to look forward to. For the first time we have foreign dancers who will compete,” she said during yesterday’s Kapihan sa PIA.
Byron’s request
Sinulog Foundation Inc.’s board of trustees will discuss in tomorrow’s meeting the request of Capitol consultant on security Byron Garcia to allow the provincial jail inmates to participate in the grand parade.
Not only the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) inmates want to join this year’s Sinulog.
Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC) jail warden Efren Nemeño said he would also write Mayor-On-Leave Tomas Osmeña to request that their inmates be allowed to join the festivities at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Acting Mayor Michael Rama said he would prefer to have inmates join the parade than a thousand fraternity members whom he would have to look out for by himself.
But since Osmeña already said he will not have the inmates join the Sinulog, then it cannot be done, he told reporters yesterday.
Permission
Rama, also overall chairman of the Sinulog, said though that he would wait for a collective stand from the Sinulog board of trustees, the mayor and the court, whose permission will have to be sought before the inmates can leave the jail.
“I’d rather have inmates at the Sinulog than a thousand frat members coming out of nowhere and then I’m the only one controlling them. I think the most important thing to consider here is that the mayor already said no,” he told a news conference.
Sinulog Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros said they will hold a meeting today to discuss security concerns for the activities during the Sinulog, which would officially start on Jan. 11.
As of yesterday, 10 contingents from the different provinces in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao have registered to join the street dancing competition.
The Province of Camarines Sur in Luzon will be joining the Sinulog for the first time, as well as the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato in Mindanao.
Contingents from Tangub City, Iligan, Bien Unido in Bohol, Hilongos in Leyte, San Carlos City, Borongan City in Samar, and Sta. Catalina in Oriental Negros have also registered. (LCR)
