Pasigarbo sa Sugbo back in August

CEBU. Featuring the Rosquillos Festival, the town of Liloan won first place in the ritual showdown of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2012 at the Cebu International Convention Center on August 11, 2012. (Photo by Arni Aclao)
CEBU. Featuring the Rosquillos Festival, the town of Liloan won first place in the ritual showdown of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2012 at the Cebu International Convention Center on August 11, 2012. (Photo by Arni Aclao)

AFTER nearly seven years of hiatus, the "Festival of Festivals" is set to take center stage again next month.

Some 46 town and city mayors in Cebu Province have committed to join the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, which will be reintroduced in August in time for the celebration of the province's 450th founding anniversary.

A flagship tourism and culture program of Governor Gwen Garcia during her earlier stint as governor, Pasigarbo sa Sugbo is an annual exhibition of festivals participated by towns and component cities in the province.

Before, the event was held at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) where the One Cebu Expo also took place. These, however, were not retained by the administration of former governor, now Vice Governor Hilario Davide III.

With her return to the Capitol, Garcia said she will revive the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, One Cebu Expo and the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo.

Almost all of the 51 mayors from towns and component cities in the province have expressed their support for Garcia's tourism plans.

All the local chief executives from the first, second, sixth and seventh districts of Cebu have promised to participate during their first general assembly with Garcia Wednesday afternoon, July 3, at the Provincial Capitol social hall.

Aside from Toledo City, all the other local government units (LGU) in the third district will also join the event.

A representative of Toledo City Mayor Joie Perales said while they are interested in the event, they will still have to discuss the matter with their city officials.

The same sentiment was shared by a representative of Danao City Mayor Ramonito Durano III, adding they will also have to check the availability of funds since they are also preparing for their Karansa Festival in September.

The northern towns of Tudela and Tabuelan have declined due to budget constraints.

Except for Tabuelan, all the other LGUs in the fourth district will join the event.

In the fifth district, all the LGUs will participate except for Tudela, while Danao and Pilar have yet to confirm.

Given the dilapidated condition of the CICC, Balamban Mayor Alex Binghay suggested holding the event at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).

San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya suggested staging Pasigarbo sa Sugbo in the City of Naga, while Daanbatayan Mayor Sun Shimura suggested the north reclamation area in Mandaue City.

Fifth district Provincial Board Member Andrei Duterte suggested holding the event in Carmen town, which was also the host of the 2018 Cebu Provincial Sports Meet.

Most of the mayors, though, prefer the CCSC since it is at the center and would not be too far for towns and cities coming from the north, south and midwest.

The Pasigarbo is expected to take stage between August 4 to 10.

To help towns prepare, Garcia has tapped award-winning choreographer and stage director Victor Cuenco to coordinate with the mayors and their choreographers.

A final meeting with the mayors has been set by Garcia on Friday, July 5.

During the meeting Wednesday, July 3, Garcia also thanked the mayors for setting aside political differences and heeding her call.

"We hope to work together for the next three years. There is much to be done and catch up to. This should be a signal wherein almost everyone will participate to our activities. I believe that the next three years should be productive and fruitful," she said. (RTF)

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph