[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’President stays away from ‘shabu-lized’ Iloilo, Dinagyang’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
Thursday, January 19, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
ILOILO City – President Rodrigo Duterte is not gracing Dinagyang Festival, the premier tourism event of the city he dubbed the “most shabu-lized” in the country.
Shabu is methamphetamine hydrochloride. Police said it is the most popular illegal drug in the country.
The President has a very hectic schedule so he can’t make it this Saturday and Sunday, according to City Tourism Officer Junel Ann Divinagracia.
Jan. 21 and 22 are the festival highlights. The Kasadyahan cultural contest is on Saturday while the ati-ati tribes competition is on Sunday.
“The most shabu-lized… is there such a word?…Iloilo,” said the President in August last year. He then accused Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of being a coddler of drug traffickers.
The city government would have wanted the President to grace the festival akin to his attending the MassKara Festival of nearby Bacolod City October last year but “kasako gid sa iya (he’s very busy),” said Divinagracia yesterday.
The President reiterated his allegation against Mabilog during a meeting with the country’s mayors last week.
Mabilog was seeking a separate meeting with the President, according to his spokesperson Atty. Mark Piad.
Even if the President is not coming, several officials from the Office of the President will, said Divinagracia.
Mabilog maintained that since he entered government service as a city councilor in 2004, he had kept his honor, integrity and accountability to the public.
“Along with this resolve came numerous awards and recognitions attesting to my determined effort to lead Iloilo City to become a premiere city that it is now,” he said.
Even without the President, Iloilo City will still be full of VIPs, said Divinagracia. She mentioned Ilonggo senator Franklin Drilon, Department of Agriculture undersecretary Evelyn Laviña, National Irrigation Administrator Peter Angelo Laviña, and National Anti-Poverty Commission chief Liza Maza.
The following have also confirmed their attendance:
* Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat Mayor Lina Montilla, Vice Mayor Joseph Lechonsito and members of the Sultan Kudarat City Council
* Tourism Promotions Board head Cezar Montano
* USAID’s Ofelia Templo and Maris Mikelsons
* Undersecretary Revimare de Mesa
* General Hernani Perez and and Brigadier General Jon Aying, commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division.
Divinagracia said media people from Taiwan as well as bloggers from India and United Kingdom, among others, are also coming over.
Dinagyang is the Hiligaynon word for revelry or merrymaking. The festival started in 1967 when a replica of the image of the Sto. Niño (Child Jesus) was brought from Cebu to the San Jose parish.
The image, accompanied by devotees from Cebu, was enthusiastically received by the Ilonggos who danced on the streets of the city to the tune of rumbling drums./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
