Thursday, January 03, 2008 So be it: guv on Tomas' no
THE Cebu Provincial Government will not insist on letting inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) join in the Sinulog parade this month.
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said she respects the judgment of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, being the local chief executive of Cebu City.
“This activity will be held within the territorial jurisdiction of the Cebu City government and chief executive has spoken. So, we must follow. That is his judgment call, let us respect that,” she said.
When asked if she will allow the inmates to dance in the Festival of Festivals, a yearly activity of the Province as part of its Founding Anniversary every July, Garcia said she still has to think about it too.
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Although she received information that many people want to see the famous inmates dancing live, she is also considering the public’s reaction through text messages published in newspapers.
“I do read so at least maka-gauge ta sa pulso…Let’s see if that’s what the public really wants because so far, all the reactions have been negative,” she said.
The inmates have become famous after a video of their Thriller dance became a big hit on the Internet.
The video also landed in the top five of the top 10 most watched video of Time Magazine.
Capitol consultant Byron Garcia, who conceptualized the dances, had written to the Sinulog Foundation requesting that the inmates be allowed to join and that Capitol will take care of the security aspect.
Tom’s say
But Sinulog overall chairman and Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama said he will leave the matter to the mayor.
Osmeña was quoted as saying that he will not allow the inmates to join the Sinulog, “even if Michael Jackson dances with them.”
In a related development, the governor will be dancing in the Sinulog with Batayan’s Palawod Festival.
Last year, she danced with Daanbantayan’s Haladaya Festival.
This is the third year that the governor will join in the grand parade.
She will also be giving financial aid to the Sinulog Foundation and to the towns that will be joining in the activity. (MBG)
