Mayor wants Holy Week music festival to proceed
The mayor of Sta. Fe town in Bantayan Island,which is scheduled to hold a music festival featuring live bands this Holy Week, is determined to push through with the event despite Governor Hilario Davide III’s appeal to have it moved to some other dates.
“Dili na maayo. Unfair nang i-postpone. Dili pwede kay maguba ang activities. Kung gusto si Gov, i-declare ang Bantayan as religious destination. Tourist destination tapos gusto ta i-boost ang tourism through this event, contradicting kung atong pugngan,” Mayor Jose Esgana told The FREEMAN over the phone last night.
Esgana explained that rescheduling the music festival will affect local tourism since tourist arrivals in Bantayan normally peak during the Holy Week.
“Peak season man na. Ganahan mi nga naa’y choice ang uban unsa nga event ilang i-attend. We respect the solemnity of the event. Dili man ni makaguba. Mura naman hinuon ta’g anti-economic development,” he said.
Davide yesterday said he received a letter from the clergy and the religious flock in Bantayan airing their concern on the so-called Food Festival Food Fashion 2017.
The governor said while he understands that nonreligious activities have become part of Bantayan’s observance of the Holy Week, officials should ensure that these are not offensive to the morals and sensibilities of the people, particularly the Catholics.
"I would support the sugyot sa atong religious leaders nga kay Holy Week man gud, it is supposed to be time of reflection, very solemn unta ba. Maybe they can do the music festival on Sunday sa resurrection," he said.
BULLIED ONLINE
A group called ISLA, which is organizing the fourday festival, said that despite criticisms, it will go on as planned.
Organizers, who requested for anonymity, told The FREEMAN that they have been bashed and bullied online for scheduling the event on April 12 to 15, which include Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday.
They explained that they cannot afford to reschedule the festival because they are almost complete with their preparations and have already shelled out a huge amount of money for the undertaking.
Organizers also questioned why the proposed festival only drew so much attention this time when they actually staged the same event last year.
They also said they tried to reach out to Fr. Roy Bucag who has been vocal about his opposition to the proposed festival, but to no avail.
SECLUDED VENUE
The event, they added, has been approved by the local government and complete with necessary permits.
Mayor Esgana said the event will be held near Sugar Beach in Barangay Pooc.
“Ang venue daplin sa baybayon which is 1,000 square meters. Ang venue around 500 meters from Barangay Poblacion (town proper, silingan ni sa Pooc). Ngano karon ra man sila nagreklamo nga second time na man ni? It’s unfair nga i-cancel ni,” he said.
He said the festival won’t disturb church activities because the venue is secluded.
The mayor also said he vetoed a proposed ordinance prohibiting entertainment events in the town during the Holy Week because the measure did not reportedly go through public consultation.
“Walay ni-attend nga mga resort owners. Wa gani ko kabalo naa diay kuno public hearing. Gidali-dali nila og buhat. Ngano during Holy Week ra man? Kung gusto nila, tibuok tuig. Tanan nalang events idili gyud kay unfair man,” Esgana said.