P1M aid eyed for Sinulog contingents

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government and Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) are set to give P1 million in subsidy to each contingents joining the 40th Sinulog Grand Parade in 2020.

During the awarding and repeat performance yesterday, Mayor Tomas Osmeña announced the subsidy hike to P1 million from this year’s P400,000.

“I want to assure you that we're going to make bigger contribution. This year we have given subsidies to all out-of-town contingents. Next year, we’re going to make it P1 million subsidy per contingent,” the mayor told thousands of audience at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Osmeña, in an interview, said he understands that many local government units have decided not to send contingents this year because it’s too expensive.

Only 24 competing contingents joined this year which is relatively fewer compared to last year’s 30.

Osmeña said the city and SFI have yet to decide where to source the fund.

He said the city and the foundation can afford the P1 million subsidy because the festival is also earning.

He said the contingents will no longer have to worry if they will not win next year since the subsidy can already shoulder their expenses.

Contingents spent from P1 million to P8 million to put up their performances.

For instance, Tribu Malipayon of Consolacion, Cebu, free interpretation category champion,  spent P8 million, while Kalivungan Festival of North Cotabato  and Murcia of Negros Occidental spent around P1.7 million and P3 million, respectively.

The mayor said he was impressed with this year’s performances, adding that bigger crowd is expected next year.

“Because they deserve more. With this kind of performances, expect a bigger crowd next year. That’s the least thing we can do. Local officials have to justify before their people (on their budget). Many have decided not to send contingents here because it’s very expensive,” the mayor said.

He said the Sinulog will not be as successful as it was if not for the participating contingents.

New schedule

Moreover, Osmeña also announced the rescheduling of the Sinulog Festival in 2021.

Instead of the usual third week of January, the mayor said the city will move it to March 15, 2021 in time for the fifth centenary or 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.

It will be commemorated in Cebu, which is recognized as the “cradle of Christian civilization.”

“Worst street dancing”

While the city and SFI claimed a successful festival, the judges of last Sunday’s competition said otherwise.

Lordinio Vergara, chairman of the board of judges for the street dancing category, said this year’s Sinulog was his “worst experience” as judge, saying majority of the contingents failed to perform well in the streets where throngs of revelers waited.

He said the organizers should improve the crowd control during the street dancing.

“I’ve been judging street dancing for almost 12 to 13 years. This is the worst experience so far because of glitches in crowd control,” he said.

Vergara said choreographers should be re-oriented on how to present their street dancing performances, while organizers need also to revisit the guidelines for the street dancing.

Larry Gabao, chairman of the board of judges for the Sinulog-based category, also attributed the delay in the performances to the setting up of props on stage.

He said the organizers should implement a time limit for the props setup.

Osmeña said the judges are entitled to their own opinion.

As for the organizers, he said, there’s always a room for improvement.

The mayor thanked all City Hall workers, law enforcers and volunteers who contributed to the success of the Sinulog festival, which gathered 2.5 million people.

Osmeña said he still considers Sinulog as one of the biggest festivals, if not the biggest, in the country. (FREEMAN)