Lumad Basakanon’s bid to join Aliwan Festival in peril

CEBU, Philippines - The Tribu Lumad Basakanon may not be able to join this year’s Aliwan Festival in Manila for lack of funds.

The contingent’s only hope to be able to join the festival on April 11 to 13 is the Cebu City Council to approve the request to charge its P3 million budget to the Pagcor fund.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama had already approved to charge to Pagcor fund the P3,079,551 estimated expenses for sending about 300 participants to Manila to compete in the country’s grandest festival.

But the members of the city council referred the matter before the committee on budget and finance headed by Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña for further review. The records show that Lumad Basakanon headed by Barangay Captain George Rama had been grand champion of Aliwan Festival for three straight years from 2005 to 2007.

The Lumad Basakanon had been elevated to the Hall of Fame in the Aliwan Festival after winning three straight years. However, the organizers recently decided to allow the contingent in the competition once again since it has been two years that the Cebu-based performers did not join the festival.

George vowed that Tribu Lumad Basakanon would take the grand champion trophy in the Aliwan if given the opportunity to participate. He even made the assurance of winning against the Tribu Lingganay of Alang-Alang, Leyte which won this year’s Sinulog Grand Parade. Lumad Basakanon only finished second place in the 2013 Sinulog Grand Parade.

George said they need over P3 million to be in the Aliwan Festival. P1,062,000 will be spent for the fares of 300 contingents and support staff, P367,551 for the shipment of three buses to be used by the contingents, P1,050,000 for food and the rest will be spent for the repair of costumes and props and other expenses.

City accountant Diwa Cuevas said there is still P34.3 million available balance from the Pagcor fund as of March 12. This prompted Councilor Jose Daluz III to propose that the needed budget of Lumad Basakanon be charged to the said fund. The proposal is now pending before the committee on Osmeña.   (FREEMAN)