No Playgirls at Nacionalista Party oath-taking

 

CALAMBA, Laguna - There were no scantily-clad girls performing lewd dance moves during the gathering of members of the Nacionalista Party (NP) and Liberal Party (LP) Thursday here.

 

Instead, organizers entertained the audience with wholesome song and dance numbers performed by artists who hail from this province.

 

The performers served as pre-program attraction of the oath taking of new members of the NP, a political ally of LP.

 

The LP's visit to Sta. Cruz town last week stirred controversy after members of the group Playgirls performed a sexy number during the 58th birthday celebration of Laguna Rep. Benjamin Agarao in the presence of minors.

 

The dancers were reportedly sent by Metro Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino, who was then being considered as a senatorial candidate of the LP-led administration coalition.

 

Tolentino has apologized for the incident and has withdrawn from the LP senatorial ticket.

 

Laguna Gov. Ramil Hernandez said there was no need to remind organizers about the need to keep the entertainment numbers wholesome.

 

"We don't need to discuss those things anymore because the event is formal," Hernandez said when asked if there was a conscious effort by organizers to prevent a repeat of the Sta. Cruz incident.

 

"It is a given," he added.

 

The performers during the NP oath taking were young dancers from San Pedro called V Force, "The Voice of the Philippines" contestant Rammone Rodriguez and singers Ronald Celebre and Mamshel de Castro.