During Sinulog preparations: Rama takes offense by SFI’s marginalization

CEBU, Philippines — Former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama has voiced his dismay over what he described as the marginalization of the Sinulog Foundation Incorporated (SFI) in the planning and execution of the Sinulog 2025 celebration.

Rama, who serves as the Chairman of the SFI Board of Trustees, criticized the way the foundation was sidelined during the event’s preparations, calling it a degradation of SFI’s historical role in organizing the festival.

“Sagrado kaayo ng board of trustees, sagrado kaayo ng SFI, ila lang gi-ignore,” Rama said during a press conference on Wednesday.

“I am really taking offense at what they have done, degrading the existence of the SFI. Mao rani preparation sa Sinulog nga wa gyud ka-hearing ang board of trustees physically,” he added.

Rama pointed out that while the Cebu City Government’s support is essential, the SFI has traditionally taken the lead in organizing the annual cultural and religious event to preserve its non-political nature. He expressed concern that the foundation was sidelined in favor of the executive committee spearheaded by Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia.

Rama detailed his exclusion from key planning activities, stating that he was neither consulted nor invited to meetings related to the celebration. According to him, the SFI was not given the opportunity to perform its traditional roles, such as declaring the opening of the Sinulog festivities.

“Traditionally, it was supposed to be the SFI that declares the opening,” Rama said, adding that this year, it was the City Government that took over the responsibility.

Despite his exclusion and not receiving an invitation for the opening salvo, Rama said he attended the celebration wearing his ID as SFI Chairman. But the former mayor disowned the launching activity.

“I do not know unsay hitsura sa ilang launching. Ilaha, because I disown that launching as chairman of the SFI…,” Rama said.

In response, Garcia clarified that the executive committee is responsible for the planning and execution of the Sinulog celebration, while the SFI Board of Trustees is tasked with setting policies and directions.

He noted that as the head of the local government unit (LGU), he serves as the overall chairman of Sinulog but is not a member of the SFI.

“But the execution and the planning are really left to the execomm,” Garcia said.

“As chairman, he [Rama] could have really called on the Board of Trustees to have a meeting and set the direction for the execomm to follow, so I don’t know if he did that,” Garcia added.

Garcia also stated that day-to-day operations were handled by Engr. Ricky Dakay, the SFI President, and not himself. He added that the exclusion of Rama from the City Government’s planning activities was due to his status as a private citizen and no longer an official.

“Kung planning sa SFI, ipapangutana nilang Engr. Dakay because that is beyond me,” Garcia said.

Rama held a press conference on Tuesday, January 28, to address his absence during the overall Sinulog 2025 celebration. During his press conference, he presented a book, which he referred to as his "bible," containing the history and details of Sinulog.

According to him, the book contains all the facts about Sinulog—its history, activities, and more, emphasizing his deep connection to the festival as SFI chairman.

In fact, Rama said he had the plan ready despite his being preventively suspended and eventually dismissed from service by the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Bisag na preventively suspended ko, wa man ko matangtang as chairman sa Sinulog Foundation,” Rama argued, emphasizing his continued role despite his earlier suspension from office.

“Nalista na ni tanan hangtod sa paghuman actually,” said Rama, further showing the list of activities they had supposedly planned.

Rama recalled having called for a meeting, which he defined as a supposed “convergence” with the SFI and the executive committee. But, he said the second time he called a meeting with SFI Executive Director Elmer “Jojo” Labella, it ended with only the two of them showing up.

He also said that he was supposed to call a third meeting but held back, citing that it was “no use” and chose not to pursue it.

“So if you are asking me, kang kinsa tung Sinulog?… A city government Sinulog? Sa Probinsya nga Sinulog?” said Rama.

Though, he admitted receiving a set of tickets, a Sinulog shirt, and a souvenir program from Dakay a day before the Sinulog Grand Parade. — (FREEMAN)