Cebu extends P1M cash aid to Antique

SAN JOSE, ANTIQUE, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday handed out financial assistance for the Binirayan festival here that aims to further strengthen the ties between the two Visayas provinces.

Garcia turned over the P1 million check to Antique Governor Salvacion Perez as Cebu and Antique officially forged their sisterhood ties. Antique is the very first province in the country to forge a sisterhood pact with Cebu.

Now in its 35th year as province, Antique remains true to Governor Perez’s leadership thrust focusing on culture, arts and progress in her governance.

Perez acknowledged that its sisterhood province with Cebu would strengthen the Antique’s bid as a viable economic and investment hub.

“Our best investors right now are from Cebu,” Perez said, adding that at least four major business establishments will be investing in Antique because of the help and intervention of Garcia to the business sector to invest in her province.

“Our sisterhood with Cebu is already giving us a lot of benefits,” Perez added.

For her part, Garcia said she is seeing the strengthening relationship of the two provinces.

In honor for her support to Antique, Garcia was named as Dayang Kapinangan, along with National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro as Datu Sumakwel.

While the Cebu, Kalibo and Iloilo festivals all held in honor of the Señor Sto. Niño, Antique’s Binirayan Festival is to remember the Malay roots of Antiqueños.

Conceived by Governor Evelio B. Javier in 1974, the Binirayan is a commemoration of the landing and settlement of the 10 Bornean datus in Malandog, Hamtic, the first Malayan settlement long before the occupation of the Philippines by the Spaniards.

Binirayan came from the word “biray” which means to sail or “binirayan,” which means where the datu have landed.

There was a reenactment of a theatrical presentation in local language, with the Bornean Datus and their families, priests and birays (flotilla of colorful sailboats) —all portrayed in full Malayan costumes—landing in the exact location where they originally anchored.

According to the Binirayan saga, carefully reenacted during the festival, it was in 1240 when Bornay (Borneo) was ruled by a despotic sultan named Makatunaw.

But the presence of Garcia and Teodoro during the festival has fueled rumors that it was part of their campaign for the coming 2010 national elections.

Teodoro was among those selected by the administration as presidential nominee for the Lakas party while Garcia is being courted to run for vice president.

“I came here because I would like to witness the Binirayan Festival. In line with the festival, how can I leave behind my Datu Sumakwel?” Garcia said as she dispel speculations that their presence was in preparation of the 2010 elections.

Teodoro, for his part, said he is waiting for the decision of the selection committee for Lakas official nominee.   Along with Garcia is her daughter, lawyer Christina and Liloan Mayor Vincent “Duke” Frasco. — Garry B. Lao/WAB (THE FREEMAN)