THE Talisay City Central contingent had an unusual message for a festival. Its huge sign at the start of its presentation on the Cebu City Sports Center stage said, “Prayer for the eternal rest.”
Below it was the prayer for the eternal repose of departed loved ones. The performance, complete with singing angels, was to implore the Sto. Niño to pray for those who lost their lives and for their families left behind. Marvey Caño, Talisay’s head choreographer, said in an earlier interview the theme was a tribute to their dance master who passed away last year. A judge reportedly said picking death as a theme for a festival was risky, but the contingent won third place in the Sinulog-based category of the grand parade and, a week ago, bagged the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan crown.
Another way of looking at the message is in the context of killings that happened in Talisay City in recent months. Many of those killed allegedly had ties to the illegal drug trade and it is in Talisay where transactions were made. Performers cited the need to implore the intercession of the Sto. Niño de Cebu.
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In the foot procession last Saturday, the police force walked as a group before the image of the Sto. Niño. That was what I saw from my spot along Gen. Maxilom Ave. It used to be priests and lay people or members of the Knights of Columbus (even a few politicians) but organizers must have had a reason to adjust group assignments.
The police force walking before the image looked like they were protecting the Child Jesus when it is the Sto. Niño who protects them and all of us.
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One consequence of festivals in the Philippines is that there would be tons of garbage left after every event. In the Sinulog grand parade, there still was garbage left along the parade route but it must be fewer after the Cebu City Government implemented the “Basura Watch” or garbage watch.
City Hall, the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office, and the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation were behind the campaign to educate the public on where to throw their trash and how to segregate them between biodegradable, non-biodegradable and recyclable.
Bins in some 50 eco stations placed in strategic points of the procession and parade routes were filled.
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Sinulog organizers were able to keep the events free of “epal” (from “pumapapel”) or politicians taking advantage of the huge crowds to promote themselves. Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña did the right thing in taking down tarps of Imee Marcos. According to the mayor, Marcos thanked him for the reminder.
Tarps of other candidates were also removed either by City Hall or by the people who posted them. There were some on senatorial aspirants Sonny Angara and Bong Go.
There are no VIPs (very important persons) in the Sinulog, officials said. Except for one and it is a child.