Politicians advised not to use Sinulog

Cebu City acting mayor Michael Rama yesterday advised politicians, particularly those who are eyeing for national positions in the 2010 elections, not to take advantage of the Sinulog activities for their political ambitions.

“Basin og sa paghinobra nila og gamit sa Sinulog sa ilang politikanhong ambisyon masuko si Señor Sto. Niño ug mapilde na hinoon sila unya,” Rama said.

As overall chairman of the Sinulog Foundation Incorporated, Rama had experienced that some of the political figures come to Cebu City during the holding of the Sinulog festivity.

Although the Sinulog organizers are very willing to provide them seats at the VIP area, but Rama does not want to allow them to speak before the crowd at the Cebu City Sports Center.

According to Rama, anybody including President Arroyo is very much welcome to witness the Sinulog, but if they have some other political agenda for attending the event, they should be refrained from doing it.

Meanwhile, Rama confirmed that the Sinulog organizers are now very busy on their preparation most especially on “surprise events” for the public during the Sinulog parade.

The usual Sinulog parade will start at 8 a.m. immediately after the mayor’s speech that will be delivered right at the sports center.

There were suggestions that to make it more colorful this year, Rama – with the assistance of an Australian sky diver who is now in Cebu – will perform a sky diving exhibition.

The suggestion is that Rama’s body will be bound to that of the sky diving expert and that they will jump out of a chopper from 10,000 feet high.

Both of them will do a free fall and will open their parachutes only when they are at 3,000 feet from the ground.

Once Rama lands right in front of the improvised stage, he will come up to the podium and deliver his speech.

But Rama has not confirmed yet whether he is up to the challenging but risky task. – Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)