EDITORIAL - We can expect an improved Pasigarbo sa Sugbo next year

The duration of the first edition of the revived Pasigarbo sa Sugbo has been the subject of criticisms by many – especially those radio commentators – who found it way too long compared to the Sinulog Festival.

The event started relatively on time last Sunday. The problem, however, was that because there were so many participants from different town and cities, it was only able to wrap up at nearly 3 a.m. the following day.

Many were dismayed by the fact that it took a long time for the event to finish, expecting its duration to be the same as the Sinulog Festival of Cebu City. But, of course, this is understandable since there were at least 44 contingents across the province that participated in the event.

In the Sinulog, all activities would usually end before 11 p.m. In fact, the winners would be normally announced before 10 p.m. But this is because the festival has relatively fewer contingents.

Of course, Cebuanos can forgive those behind the Pasigarbo, whose revival has taken a different route from its usual venue in Mandaue City’s reclamation area. The event’s organizers may have miscalculated its duration, especially on every contingent’s performance.

We hope that this early, the provincial government led by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is now beginning to fine-tune it as it goes back to the drawing board, deliberating on ways to correct whatever mistakes were made in the event.

Despite the “snag,” Cebuanos can still look forward to a more organized Pasigarbo next year. Yes, given its resources, the Capitol is expected to pull off an improved staging of the mother of all festivals in this part of the country.

As it returns with vengeance after at least six years of hiatus, there is plenty of room to improve the Pasigarbo. And its organizers should look no further for clues than the Sinulog Festival itself.