Monday, August 04, 2008 Costanilla: Pop Fest attracts 118 entries By Sam Costanilla Spotlight
TODAY, Monday, is the start of the weeklong celebration of the 439th founding anniversary of the Province of Cebu and a lot of activities have been lined up to mark the occasion. For instance, after this morning’s flag-raising ceremony at the Capitol grounds, Gov. Gwen Garcia will open this year’s agro-fair at the Palace of Justice grounds followed by the launching of the fifth governor’s unity volleyball cup for women at the Capitol social hall.
Tonight, dyHP talents, led by Board Member Julian Daan, a.k.a. Teban, will stage a variety show at the parking lot near the Palace of Justice. This free show is a must-see presentation for those who want to prove that laughter is indeed the best medicine. Trust Teban and company to delight all of us from start to finish of their show.
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DUE to space limitations, I cannot enumerate all the other exciting events during the weeklong observance but allow me to single out this year’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Festivals. It’s actually a showdown and competition of the colorful festivals of close to 40 local government units in the province with the incomparable Engr. Junjet Primor directing the entire program at the Cebu International Convention Center grounds. I will act as the show emcee.
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AS of this writing, 118 entries to next year’s Cebu Popular Music Festival have already been received by the secretariat of the Cebu Arts Foundation Inc. chaired by Rep. Eduardo Gullas. These original Cebuano/Visayan compositions will be thoroughly screened to determine those that will compose the magic 12. The screening will be on Aug. 10 at the University of the Visayas alumni office. I hope those songwriters whose entries fail to land in the magic 12 would learn to accept their fate instead of sour-graping and assailing the screeners.
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THERE is an upcoming event, a very exciting one, that the Talisay City Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council is going to launch on Oct. 14 this year with the baroto, a locally-built boat made of wood and bamboo, as the featured item. It normally comes with outriggers to help balance the boat but it may or may not have a sail or layag to assist it in forward motion. The baroto is propelled by its occupants using paddles.
Council chair David Odilao Jr. told me that the Talisay Baroto Regatta is proposed to be an annual activity to coincide with the festivities of Talisay City’s patron saint Santa Teresa de Avila. “The event highlight will be a baroto race from the shores of Talisay to Mactan channel and back covering a distance of five nautical miles,” Odilao stressed.
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TO me, this is a very laudable undertaking by the Odilao-led council. It is about time that we pay tribute to the fishermen and the popular watercraft of our forefathers called baroto. This event could also become another tourist attraction for Cebu and I’m sure Gov. Gwen Garcia and Tourism Regional Director Dawnie Roa and other stakeholders of the local tourism industry would be more than glad and willing to support this project. Odilao also said the grand winner of the race will receive P20,000 and a trophy. For registration and queries, call or text cell phone number 09189406478.
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THIS former city councilor was arrogantly asked by his former boss (the mayor) why he was attending the blessing of a newly renovated structure.
The ex-councilor told the mayor that aside from being invited to the occasion by his former colleagues, as a taxpayer he just wanted to see how the structure was built and where his taxes went. The arrogant mayor left without saying a word.
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THIS local media club didn’t function for a year because its former head didn’t have any leadership skill at all. Now, the club has a new set of officers whose immediate concern is to reengineer it and give it a new image. (E-mail: samcost@yahoo.com or text 09268443888)
