Capiz guv: Global Peace Festival promotes tourism not religion
ROXAS CITY – Capiz Governor Victor Tanco, Sr., clarified that the provincial government is not promoting religion by hosting the Global Peace Festival rather the activity will boost the tourism industry of the province and the city.
"We are not promoting religion here but tourism especially our place which is sleeping in terms of tourism," Tanco said.
According to him, with the province's hosting of the said festival hundreds of tourists, both local and foreigners, are coming in benefiting the hotels, restaurants, tricycle drivers and the Capiz business community.
Reacting on negative feedback, Tanco said that the province does not discriminate religions and beliefs as guaranteed in the Constitution.
Earlier, religious sectors particularly the Catholic Church withdrawn their support to the said festival and announced that it is anti-Christ.
However, organizers denied they are anti-Christ saying that they are bringing people to "One Family under God" regardless of whatever religion they have.
Religious schools such as: Filamer Christian College, Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion, St. Mary's Academy, St. Anthony College Hospital, St. John College, Hercor College reportedly withdrawn their support in yesterday's grand parade.
City DepEd announced that they still support the said parade but is not compulsory for the students.
Dr. Expedito Seneres, president of Filamer Christian College, told The News Today that they will support Gov. Tanco but not the Global Peace Festival organizer. He said that he will let students attend the parade but it will not be a must.
It was learned that five celebrities will grace the affair. They are: .Singer-actress Pops Fernandez, Billy Crawford, Kris Lawrence, Jeffrey Hidalgo, and John Prats. The Manila-based celebrities paid courtesy call to Gov. Tanco's office yesterday.