Organizers bare minor changes in 2017 Sinulog
THE Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) will raise the subsidies of dancing contingents for next month’s Sinulog celebration.
Organizers will also finish the stage at the Cebu City Sports Center earlier so contingents can use it for their practices.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña has barred them, especially those coming from the city, to rehearse inside schools so as not to disrupt classes.
In an interview with Sun.Star Cebu yesterday, Councilor Hanz Abella, who is the Sinulog executive committee head, said they will finish the stage before the end of the month or during the first week of January.
“The stage is a bit delayed but we will finish it earlier,” he said.
The preparations for the stage are usually completed in time for the Sinulog sa Kabataan, which is held a week before the grand parade.
The grand parade is held every third Sunday of January, or Jan. 15 next year.
As for the financial assistance, Abella said they will increase it because they are expecting fewer participants in the grand parade.
Fewer participants
“There are only few who signified to join because of the change of administration. The contingents are not being supported by their local government units. They don’t have budgets so we are planning to increase the subsidy,” he said.
Also, Osmeña had said he would no longer allow public elementary and high schools from the city to join the Sinulog sa Kabataan.
Participants must come from the barangays.
SFI executive director Ricky Ballesteros said the Sinulog sa Barangay and the Sinulog sa Kabataan Lalawigan each have 10 contingents.
The grand parade only have four out-oftown contingents.
Ballesteros said those who have expressed to join are Lanao del Norte, Dumaguete City, Catbalogan City in Samar and Tangub City.
Those who will be missed next year are the two contingents from Placer, Masbate. This means that Kulturang Placereño will not be able to defend its title in the Sinulogbased category.
The contingent from Panglao in Bohol will also not join.
Asked how much the increase on the subsidy will be, Abella said it will be determined in their next ex- ecutive committee meeting.
A subsidy will also be given to participating barangays, he added.
Concerns
Over the years, the SFI has been giving P200,000 as financial assistance to out-of-town contingents and those from Cebu Province. The foundation also gives P120,000 for their transportation.
Asked if there will be more changes in next year’s festivities, Abella said they are still planning on how to go about the holding of the street parties.
The mayor previously said he no longer wants street parties to be held due to peace and order and crowd control concerns.
Abella said they are waiting for Councilor Dave Tumulak’s recommendation on the matter. Tumulak is the deputy mayor for police concerns.
Abella also said the grand parade is expected to end between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
“Next year’s Sinulog celebration will be more or less the same. There will be minor changes but as much as possible, we don’t want mausab ang celebration (to change),” he said.
Osmeña, in his news conference yesterday, said those found drinking on the streets will be apprehended.
He said he wants to avoid a stampede like what happened on Gen. Maxilom Ave. in the past.
If people misbehave, the mayor joked that he will cancel the Sinulog celebration entirely.