LIBERAL Party (LP) candidates who will walk with the governor and vice governor in today’s grand parade will wear Sinulog shirts not their campaign shirt, said Atty. Ramil Abing, Capitol’s Sinulog organizing committee chairperson.
Abing said the candidates are here to observe the cultural importance of the occasion.
The visiting LP bets are senatorial candidates Leila de Lima, former Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary; former Akbayan Partylist Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel and former Tesda director Joel Villanueva.
LP vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo, Abing said, may not make it to today’s Sinulog due to other activities.
“Kalambuan Matag Sugbuanon,” or progress for each Cebuano, is Capitol’s theme in this year’s Sinulog, said Abing.
He said Capitol’s two floats in the parade have several structures carrying symbols and icons of Capitol’s projects.
“It is Cebu Government’s challenge to us and this administration’s promise to Cebu,” Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide said in a press statement.
Each float is 12.5 feet high and 46 feet long and fitted to a truck. It has a replica of Cebu island on it with projects represented by icons placed on specific spots of the island to represent where they are implemented.
Colors
Its colors are yellow and blue on a white background.
On the side of the float is the statement, “Cebu is reaping the fruits of genuine change and good governance.”
These are in terms of business and infrastructure, health, education and social services, women, children, youth and senior citizens, countryside development, disaster risk-reduction management, law enforcement and security, and tourism.
Capitol spent P500,000 for the two floats, with part of the amount coming from the private sector.
Davide said in his press statement that the projects show the Capitol’s concern for the Cebuanos.
Abing said this is the present administration’s second year of joining the Sinulog with floats and 80 dancers as guest performers.
Although he belongs to the Jesus is Lord Movement, former secretary Joel Villanueva will witness the Sinulog grand parade.
Villanueva, former director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), considers Sinulog as an interfaith activity that other religions can learn from, especially about culture and the arts.
It is the same as Christians observing the Chinese New Year celebration every February. Christians celebrate New Year on Jan. 1.
“I want to learn more from the Cebuano culture and how they cultivated their faith,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva is a member of JLM founded by his father, Eddie Villanueva.