ILOILO City – What was meant to be a showcase of athletic spirit ahead of the Dinagyang Festival has instead stirred controversy after several sporting events were branded with the name of Mayor Raisa Treñas — prompting accusations of political branding and forcing a city official to issue a clarification.
Executive Assistant for Youth and Sports Rudiver Jungco said the use of the mayor’s name was not a directive from the city government but a request from private organizers of the events.
“It’s the organizers’ request to include the mayor’s name,” Jungco explained. “They believe it gives more credibility and helps attract more participants. For them, having the mayor’s name makes the event look official and trustworthy.”
The issue erupted after Jungco’s Facebook post listing 20 Dinagyang sports events, 14 of which bore the “Mayor Raisa Treñas” label, drew backlash from netizens accusing the local government of politicizing the cultural festival.
Jungco clarified that each event is privately organized and only receives logistical support from the city government.
“The mayor did not ask for her name to be used. The organizers themselves submitted letters to us specifying how they wanted their events titled,” he said. “We’re just supporting them in terms of permits, venues, and coordination.”
He also noted that the practice was not new to Dinagyang’s sports programming.
“Even during the time of former Mayor Jerry Treñas, events also carried the mayor’s name,” Jungco said. “This isn’t new, though perhaps more organizers are doing it now.”
Following the uproar, Jungco took down his Facebook post.
“I deleted it because of the bashing,” he admitted. “I don’t want to escalate the issue, so I turned over the posting to the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), which manages all official Dinagyang promotions.”
He added that discussions will be held with event organizers to address public sentiment and clarify the city’s limited role.
“We respect public feedback, and we’ll talk to the organizers about what can be adjusted,” Jungco said. “But it’s important to note that these are private-led events that simply seek city support.”
Despite the backlash, Jungco underscored that Dinagyang’s sports events remain centered on unity and youth development.
“These sporting events are meant to unite Ilonggos through healthy competition,” he said. “Regardless of the titles used, what matters most is that people come together to celebrate our city’s culture and sportsmanship.”/PN
