Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama. (Photo courtesy of Cebu City PIO)
CEBU CITY – Mayor Michael Rama on Friday said all is ready for this year’s celebration of Sinulog 2023 despite the bad weather caused by the low-pressure area and the shear line.
Rama also announced that the final venue for the One Cebu Island Sinulog 2023 grand parade will be held at South Road Properties, the capital city’s new business district.
“All is set, and we will celebrate One Cebu Island Sinulog 2023 at SRP, with the grand parade in a carousel to move between City de Mare and SM Seaside City,” Rama said in a statement.
The grounds, he said, are ready and everything is set for this year’s celebration whether the city will have rain or fair weather.
He said no rain could stop the celebration since they had Sinulog street dance competitions under bad weather in the past.
“We have faith in our patron, the Holy Child Jesus, Señor Santo Niño, that all is well when we celebrate His feast, from the fluvial and street procession to our annual cultural event, now at SRP,” Rama said.
He also extended his appreciation to the participants, choreographers and dancers, the costume, backdrop and props designers, the float builders, giant-makers and puppeteers, drummers, and contingent marshals for standing by the city’s decision to change the venue from the usual route at the Cebu City Sports Center.
“We would not have attained the recognition of Sinulog as an Asian festival without your tireless creativity that continuously improves year after year,” he said.
Rama’s statement came after Cebu Governor Gwendolyn and the mayors of eight localities appealed that the venue for the dance showdown be changed as they questioned the safety of the venue.
Garcia, in a presscon on Thursday, said she will not pursue her annual dance ritual if the venue would be at the SRP.
She also said nine contingents would not join the grand parade should the venue not changed.
Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas, in a statement on social media, also appealed to Rama to reconsider the holding of Sinulog at the SRP.
Their decision to back out came after photos of the new venue posted on social media showed a sea of mud that affected the rehearsals of a few contingents on Thursday because of rains due to bad weather brought by the shear line and LPA, which drew criticisms from netizens. (PNA)
