PNoy visit to mean increased security

CEBU, Philippines - President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s visit to Cebu during the Sinulog is expected to inconvenience people with the strictest security measures to be implemented at the Cebu City Sports Center on January 15.

But for Mayor Michael Rama, he would be most happy if President Aquino would accept his invitation to witness once again the colorful presentations of the various contingents who are coming from different places of the country.

“Ang-ang man usab og dili nato imbitahon ang Presidente pag-anhi nga maisip man kini nga pista sa Sugbo,” the mayor said. (We should always invite the President to Cebu’s biggest fiesta.)

When the President also attended the Sinulog activity at the Cebu City Sports Center last year, people found it hard to go inside the sports center because of the measures implemented by the Presidential Security Group (PSG).

The PSG members who were assigned at the entrance advised people to leave sharp-pointed objects with the guards. Even ballpens were not allowed inside the sports center.

Last year, President Aquino stayed at the sports center for about an hour.

“Dili man pagasabton nga supak kita nga moanhi si Presidente Aquino pero kon mosulod gud siya sa sports center unya moestar lang kadali dili kini bugti sa kahasol sa mga tawo nga mosulod,” a City Hall official who asked anonymity said.

If President Aquino will accept Rama’s invitation for the next Sunday’s event, this will be his second visit to Cebu to witness the famous Sinulog Festival, which is acknowledged as the mother of all festivals in the country.

Fayette Riñen of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) recalled that President Aquino was the only President to have delivered a speech before thousands of people at the sports center since the Sinulog Festival started 32 years ago.  (FREEMAN)