CEBU Governor Gwendolyn Garcia hit the team handling the sounds and lights for this year’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo over what she called as “technical booboos” encountered during the grand ritual showdown Sunday night, August 27, 2023.
Garcia then appealed to the panel of judges to disregard the errors, saying the technical issues that affected the performance of some contingents are out of their control.
“So may I ask, do not consider the technical booboos over which we have no control, over which our own technical directors, choreographers have no control of. Consider how much all of these performers have continued to work for bisan pag pagngan nag audio, padayon gihapon og sayaw,” she said.
“Pwede ba, yun lang ang hingi ko. Lumingon naman kayo kahit konting pagtingin…Please do not take it out against our contingents,” she said.
She blamed Alberca Sounds and Lights for the technical glitches, and clarified that the Province is just renting the sounds and lights system.
“That was supposed to set the direction for Pasigarbo sa Sugbo with the presence of the Vice President and the First Lady, but what did you do? Palpak!” she told Alberca.
Garcia expressed her frustrations over the poor handling of the audio during the grand ritual showdown after some netizens watching the event’s live streaming speculated that there was sabotage involved.
The governor said she noticed that the technical glitches happened especially during the performances of the province’s major festivals, such as those of Toledo City, Aloguinsan and Boljoon.
“Nasayod ko, pwerteng paningkamot sa tanan. All mayors, choreographers, performers, all that we want is fair play. Lingo-lingo ng nagkupot sa audio ay, pero rest assured daghan nag pulis nagbantay sa likod,” Garcia said.
To avoid the same problem in next year’s holding of Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, she vowed that the Province of Cebu will purchase its own sounds and lights system.
A total of 52 contingents from different local government units in Cebu Province have joined the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2023. Of the 52, two were considered guest contingents -- Cebu Province and Lapu-Lapu City. (LMY)