Sinulog board won’t convene this year – Mayor

CEBU, Philippines — Claiming that the main purpose of creating the Cebu City Sinulog Governing Board was only for the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte, Mayor Edgardo Labella said the board will not convene this year.

Labella said there is also no need to dissolve the board since it will not have any activity for the upcoming Sinulog, if there would be any considering the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Dili na kinahanglan pa nga idissolve ang Sinulog Governing Board kay katong Sinulog Governing Board, usa gyud sa katuyoan niadto, tungod man gud to sa pagbisita sa Presidente. There were many higher officials in government nga mura gyud nag-aghat nato nga kinahanglan there should be proper security measure that should be employed during the Sinulog,” said Labella.

“Pero karon, wa ma’y plano nga moanhi ang Presidente, mao na nga dili na kinahanglan pa kay dili naman sad to nato i-convene kay wa nama’y kinahanglan pa,” he added.

Duterte attended the Sinulog Festival on January 19, 2020.

Vice Mayor Michael Rama earlier asked Labella to dissolve the CCSGB and let the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) handle everything. To recall, the mayor announced that Rama will have “full control” of the Sinulog activities together with SFI.

Rama resigned as SFI chairman last year mainly due to the governing board which, as he said, instead of complementing the foundation had caused conflict of functions and activities. The vice mayor, however, remains a trustee in the SFI.

Rama welcomed Labella’s decision saying, “It will bring unanimity in direction so we have to thank the Mayor for that.”

According to Rama, the challenge now is how Sinulog 2021 will be done as well as how they can be working on the 500 years celebration of Christianity. Rama said steps are already being taken--meetings were already conducted with regard to the preparation for Sinulog 2021.

“Our Sinulog should not be expected at this time as grand as we used to have. Most important thing is, notwithstanding COVID-19, there will still be Sinulog, which will be adjustable. It will even be Sinulog option A, B, and C or it will be a Sinulog with a lot of combinations... Mindful very well, strictly, absolutely on the protocols,” said Rama. — FPL (FREEMAN)