CEBU, Philippines — Controversy shrouded Carcar City’s victory in the recent Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2023 after a “series of technical glitches” stole the limelight that Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia even believed was already a case of "sabotage."
Carcar City's Kabkaban Festival Queen, who won the top plum, is incidentally the daughter of Isidro Alberca, owner of Alberca Lights and Sounds Rental which was used during the festival.
Garcia said Alberca could have disclosed earlier that her daughter is competing as Festival Queen considering that he is in control of the audio and video presentation of the event.
“Nag full-disclosure ka unta nga imong anak kandidata as Carcar Festival Queen,” said Garcia.
Alberca, in an interview with The FREEMAN last night, vehemently denied sabotaging the event.
“Bisan mamatay pa ko karon, wala ko nag-sabotage sa event ni Gov Gwen intawon. Naay Ginoo sa langit honest ko nga pagkatawo. Wala na sa akong hunahuna nga i-sabotahe ang Pasigarbo sa Sugbo,” said Alberca, who has been in the business for 13 years and admitted this is the first time he met this kind of controversy.
Trending daughter
He also said that his daughter won and that is based on the judges’ decision and he has nothing to do with it if his daughter won as Festival Queen.
“Naa may mga judges nga ni judge sa mga festival queen. Sa kadtong pag pre-judging sa mga mga festival queen, ang akong anak nag trending na daan,” Alberca said.
He added that his role is only to put up the LED wall, the sound system and lighting.
“Mao ra na akong role intawon. Wala koy labot anang unsay ipangpaslak nga video nganha kay dili na mao akong trabaho. Ang province naay production team nga mao in-charge sa flow sa production. Ngano ako na man hinoon ang gibasol sa tanan?” Alberca said.
Technician Jabert
He admitted thought that he has a crew member named Jabert, who, in his personal capacity, was the one being contacted by the production team to handle the videos given by the respective LGUs.
“Si Jabert gibayran na sa production team para maoy mopaslak anang nga videos paro kana internal na nila nga sabot, kay gibayran gud siya separately para sa kana nga trabahua. So, ako wala koy labot ana,” Alberca explained.
However, Alberca added that he also said sorry to the governor during the event, but the governor no longer listened to her.
“Ako dili gyud ko mangaway ni Gov Gwen pero dili lang pud unta ko niya palabi-an ba. Kung ipatawag ko ni Gov Gwen andam ko moatubang niya face to face aron mosulti ko niya unsay tinuod ba. Mayta inig estorya namo naa pud nang production team nila,” Alberca added.
The governor said the event incurred 15 technical glitches.
Among the 15 contingents who have technical glitches, the performance of Carcar City’s Kabkaban Festival contingents went on smoothly wherein its Festival Queen, Jhesidy Thea, also performed.
Most contingents who suffered technical glitches were allegedly considered “heavyweight” contingents like the Toledo City, whose performance was stopped at the middle of their performance when the audio went out and repeat their performance.
The Mandaue City contingents also has to undo their performance thrice.
But the governor clarified such repeat performance is not the fault of the contingents or performers but due to technical glitches of the supplier, which is the Alberca Lights and Sounds Rental.
Results may change
The governor, in a press conference yesterday, has informed the mayors the results of the competition may change as SGV, the accounting firm contracted upon Garcia’s instruction, as will be redoing the computation, which this time is 85 percent of the judges’ decision and 15 percent of the online voting.
“You are asking me, I am changing the rules in the middle of the game. Well, I also did not expect there will be a sabotage in last night’s production. I am calling it a sabotage because by the very fact alone that Mr. Alberca did not care to divulge that his own daughter was also a candidate for Pasigarbo Festival Queen, para nako that was unethical and could led to suspicions not necessarily from me, by other people nga gisabotahe,” the governor said.
With the changes in the computation, the Cebu provincial government announced that it has called off the Awarding Ceremonies of the Pasigarbo Sa Sugbo 2023 which is supposed to be held yesterday at the Carcar City Sports Complex.
Garcia, in a meeting with Pasigarbo Sa Sugbo organizers and convenors, has decided to set another date for the awarding ceremonies after some issues shall have been threshed out and settled.
Province may not pay
Cebu Provincial Legal Officer Donato Villa said that Alberca could be held liable for negligence for violating the contractual obligations with the province.
One of the options of the province, he said, is not to pay the remaining balance or pay a little to Alberca.
The governor said that Cebu Province has a contract with Alberca in millions.
Garcia said, that for several years, the province is getting the services of Alberca Lights and Sounds and, last year, they were already asked to upgrade their laptops, of which the latter apparently failed to do.
The governor was so upset when the Mandaue City contingents had to perform thrice due to the technical glitches that she even told the police to surround the Alberca’s technical person not to touch anything.
“Kabantay mo after the Mandaue City performance up to the last contingent wala nay palpak,” she said.
“Aw ako wala ra pud ko nilakaw. Nara gyud ko didto hangtud kadlawon. Wala koy gihilabtan kay dili man sad gyud ko kamao anang video video,” Alberca, for his side, also countered.
Winner’s list
Meanwhile, based on the results of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2023 the other night, Minglanilla town is still the most awarded.
It’s Sugat Kabanhawan Festival won as second place in the Grand Ritual Showdown, Best in Festival Costume, second place in the street dancing competition, Best in Mayor’s Introduction, and second runner in the Festival Queen category.
Aside from winning as the Pasigarbo’s Festival Queen 2023, the Carcar City contingents won as Champion in the Ritual Showdown and Champion in Street Dancing.
Other winners in the Ritual Showdown are:
3rd place- Contingent #5 Hinulawan Festival of Toledo City;
4th place- Contingent #20 Sarok Festival of Consolacion;
5th place- Contingent #35 Dagitab Festival of City of Naga;
6th place- Contingent #40 Palawod Festival of Bantayan;
7th place- Contingent #15 Kagasangan Festival of Moalboal;
8th place- Contingent #13 Panagbagat Festival of Poro;
9th place- Contingent #17 La Torta Festival of Argao;
and 10th place- Contingent #45 Rosquillos Festival of Liloan.
For the Street Dancing Competition:
3rd place- Contingent #14 Humba Festival of Ronda;
4th place- Contingent #25 Utanon Festival of Dalaguete;
and 5th place- Contingent #50 Halad Inasal Festival of Talisay City
The Rosquillos Festival of Liloan won the Best in Festival Jingle, while the Best in Decorated Van went to Sarok Festival of Consolacion.
Other winners in the Pasigarbo Sa Sugbo Festival Queen are 2nd place- Candidate #4 Hinulawan Festival of Toledo City; 3rd place- Candidate #25 Sugat Kabanhawan of Minglanilla; 4th place- Candidate #36 Panagtagbo Festival of Mandaue City; and 5th place- Candidate #12 Kagasangan Festival of Moalboal.
Other winners:
Miss Photogenic – Soli-Soli Festival of San Francisco;
Best in Group Production – Hinulawan Festival of Toledo City
Best Solo Performer – Dinagat Festival of Cordova
Best Festival Queen Costume – Kagasangan Festival of Moalboal.
Mayor Junard "Ahong" Chan also took on the role of Datu Lapulapu during the performance of Lapu-Lapu Arnis De Abanico.
He appeared as a guest performer together with Lapu-Lapu Arnis De Abanico.
The event was graced by prominent figures, including the first lady of the Philippines, Marie Louise 'Liza' Araneta-Marcos, and Vice President Sara Duterte. Senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid, DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco and local Cebu legislators, mayors and other local officials graced the event. — (FREEMAN)