Online votes to be counted in Pasigarbo judging

CEBU, Philippines — The Capitol has expanded its judging method for this year’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo that will include online audience impact.

As practiced, only the panel of judges evaluates the performance of the contingents but this time, the online audience will give scores to the 50 contingents from different towns and cities.

"However in this year's Pasigarbo, the panel of judges will only be evaluating the performances and giving the corresponding points up to 80. The remaining 20 points and for the first time we are putting this in, will be for audience impact," said Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

This means that even those from other countries, such as the overseas Filipino workers, watching the live streaming of the performance can rate the contingents.

Garcia is set to meet again the mayors of the participating cities and towns next week to discuss the new scoring system.

The street dancing will start at the Capitol ground all the way to the Cebu City Sports Center for the ritual showdown where each contingent will be given five minutes to perform on stage.

Garcia has yet to divulge the amount of prizes but she said it should not be below P1 million.

The staging of Pasigarbo sa Sugbo will be on August 28 as part of the month-long celebration of the 453rd Founding Anniversary of the Province of Cebu. —GMR( FREEMAN)