Thursday, January 03, 2008 No more parties at social hall after guests urinated on walls
GOV. Gwendolyn Garcia will no longer allow any activities by other institutions, entities or private individuals in the Capitol Social Hall.
This, after a party was held at the hall where guests allegedly urinated on the wall and behind its curtains, leaving the place stinking with urine.
Garcia told reporters yesterday that she received reports that drinks overflowed during that party and the partygoers got drunk and urinated on the walls.
Two days later, the election of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) was held in the same hall and the placed was still “reeking with urine” even after the janitorial services cleaned it.
“It was an utter desecration of the dignity of this heritage monument… As much as I am trying to restore the beauty of the Capitol, let us also protect its dignity,” she said.
The Capitol Social Hall has hosted several international events including some of the activities of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit.
When she became governor four years ago, she already designated the Provincial Treasurer’s Office to handle bookings of the social hall with a standing policy that no parties except for Capitol sponsored events be allowed.
Her predecessors had allowed parties of employees like wedding and birthday receptions to be held in the social hall but she stopped the practice because guests do not respect the dignity of the hall.
“Gamiton nga trapo sa kamot ang kurtina (They wiped their hands on the curtains),” she said.
She said the party held last week was in clear violation of her policy and she tasked the one who approved it to call the attention of the people involved in the event.
The governor did not name the institution that held the party, though.
Yesterday, she issued a memorandum stating that no more events other than those initiated by the Capitol be allowed in the social hall, “except under very meritorious circumstances.” (MBG)
