DOT: Pasigarbo a symbol of Cebu’s resilience

CEBU, Philippines — The Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2022 yesterday transformed the streets of Cebu City into a virtual fiesta of colors, with at least 50 towns and component cities of Cebu represented, demonstrating the province's resilience amid the pandemic.

Dubbed as Festival of Festivals, the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo was full of colors, huge props and participants beaming with pride as the crowd could not help but cheer every performance.

 Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, the mother and founder of Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, officially opened the grand showdown competition, especially thanking the tri-cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue for joining the event which she described as making that Cebu is indeed a “One Cebu Island”.

Mandaue City was among the 50 contingents joining the grand showdown competition while Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City were guests contingents.

"Dako nakong kalipay ug garbo nga napadayon ang Pasigarbo sa Sugbo kay kini nagsimbolo sa kaligdong sa mga Sugbuanon nga bisan pa sa giatubang nga kalisud, padayon ang Sugbo ug padayon ang kumbati sa mga Sugbuanon,” said Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco in her speech.

Frasco added that she is happy and proud that the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo continued.

 Frasco said that this will also show the world that Cebu is leading the economic recovery of our country and where Cebu is, the rest of the country will follow.

Earlier in the day, Neil Sanchez, head provincial disaster risk reduction office, made an assessment as of 4 p.m. that the street dancing was peaceful and orderly with few incidents of exhaustion among the participants.

 “Our challenge was taas kaayo ang gap kay ang ubang mga participants nagpahuway, nangaon or nanginom but overall peaceful and orderly ra gyud,” Sanchez said.

It was observed that the streets from V.  Rama Avenue down to the Capitol to Fuente Osmeña to Osmeña Boulevard where filled with colorful and huge props as well as participants wearing equally colorful costumes with their headdress.

As of 7 p.m. last night, nine out of the 50 contingents had already performed.

Support

The Metropolitan Cebu Water District expressed its support to the Cebu Provincial Government as it brings back the Festival of Festivals after two years of hiatus by providing free cold drinking water to the participants and the spectators of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo grand parade.

MCWD, in partnership with Kooler Industries, put up two drinking fountains along the parade route – one in front of the Avon building near Capitol and another one in front of the Department of Health (DOH) compound on Osmeña Blvd.

Paradegoers can easily locate MCWD’s water stations as booths with prominent signage were set up.

Aside from providing free water during the parade, MCWD also made sure that the 29 schools where the contingents are billeted have clean and safe water supply.

Two weeks before the event, MCWD collected water samples from the schools identified as billeting area of the contingents to test the quality of the water supply.  MWCD disinfected the water system of the schools whose water samples tested positive for coliform.

Supporting important events by providing free potable water is part of MCWD’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. – JMD (FREEMAN)