CEBU, Philippines — Instead of starting the activity at noon, the Garbo sa Lapu-Lapu, one of the fiesta-related celebrations of Lapu-Lapu City, will now start at 3 p.m. today, November 18.
Association of Barangay Captains President Eduardo Cuizon said this was decided after complaints were received from parents who said their children couldn't eat their lunch properly.
"Ilahang mga anak di makatarong og kaon, naa sad middle-aged nga gusto maka-join sa parade kay init," he said.
Another reason cited was the health and welfare of the participants of the annual activity as well as those individuals who wanted to watch the show, according to Cuizon.
For this year, Cuizon said the city government has allocated P3.7 million for the said activity. Last year, the budget was around P1.6 million.
This will be the 18th year the city is holding the event intended for the Oponganon youth in coordination with the 30 barangays and the Sangguniang Kabataan.
The event is in line with the city's fiesta celebration from November 20 to 21 and will take place in the Hoopsdome.
Cuizon said every barangay gets to showcase their talents and creativity through the street-dancing contest called "Pasahalad" and a parade float competition with various themes.
"The festival is an undertaken to have a tourist-attracting activity depicting and enhancing the forgotten culture, products, and assets of Lapu-Lapu City," Cuizon said.
While aiming to enhance the beauty of the city, this is also another way to allow and encourage the community to participate in preserving its culture.
There will also be a civic military parade which included the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, the City Fire District, the Philippine Air Force, Naval Forces Central and the Bureau of Fire Protection. They are set to parade around Barangay Poblacion.
Cuizon said they have coordinated with the City Traffic Management Systems to control the flow of traffic, while police will make sure the whole activity will be safe and peaceful.
Marcelita Dignos, assistant schools superintendent of the city's Department of Education, said that they have yet to know if the students will have a rest day.
"Wala pa mi kahibalo …the mayor is still the one to have a final say," Dignos said.
Mayor Paz Radaza has yet to give a statement on this matter. In a recent press conference, Radaza said there will be no class to give way to the fiesta. The City Council has yet to pass a resolution for this declaration.
The city government held their annual fluvial procession last Monday, November 12 and the police said the event turned out peaceful.
An estimated 2,000 individuals joined and witnessed the fluvial procession of the image of the Our Lady of the Rule, according to Senior Superintendent Limuel Obon, chief of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office.
The fluvial parade began around 7 a.m. in the waters off in barangays Marigondon, Agus, Maribago, Punta Engaño, Mactan, Ibo, Pusok, and Pajo and ended in the port of Barangay Poblacion, just a few meters away from the Virgen dela Regla Church.
Radaza and the members of the City Council carried the image and brought it to the church after the three-hour fluvial procession.
The Mass that followed in the church was the start of the novena masses that will end on November 20.
The mayor added that the fluvial procession was delayed for a few minutes by low tide. However, for her total assessment of the event, Radaza said she was happy and proud that the Oponganons showed their devotion and faith to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Last year, more than 2,000 attended the fluvial procession. In 2016, about 6,000 attended the event. — BRP (FREEMAN)