Palace hopefuls warned vs. political posturing in Dinagyang
Campaigning, no. Shaking hands and giving out siopao, yes.
The mayor of the city has advised politicians-especially rumored presidentiables-against political posturing and making speeches during the Dinagyang Festival.
“There should be no political speeches,” Mayor Jerry Treñas said yesterday, cautioning presidential hopefuls on what to avoid when they visit Iloilo City for the highlight of the Dinagyang Festival on January 24-25. And, he stressed, the warning also applies to streamers and posters.
He has ordered that there should be no posters or streamers of politicians in the five performance areas as well as along the parade route of the tribes. He said that this regulation also applies to local politicians.
Already, streamers bearing the greetings of Sen. Mar Roxas, Sen. Richard Gordon as well as local officials like Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog and City Councilor Julienne Baronda can be seen in strategic places and along major streets.
The City Hall has invited national officials to its top tourist event.
Among the national officials who confirmed their attendance were Senators Roxas, Francis Pangilinan, Manny Villar, Richard Gordon, Ramon Revilla Jr., Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Jamby Madrigal; Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando and his wife, Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando; Social Welfare and Development Sec. Esperanza Cabral; and Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Austere Panadero.
Also invited but have yet to confirm their attendances are Senators Francis Escudero and Panfilo Lacson.
Treñas said he has no idea whether former President Estrada will visit the city during the Dinagyang, although he was not invited by City Hall.
Roxas is being touted as the party bearer of Liberal Party and has been introduced on some occasions as the country’s next president; same with Villar for the Nacionalista Party. Gordon, Revilla, Zubiri, Fernando, Lacson and Escudero are also among those who might run for the top post next year. Estrada is being rumored to be eyeing another term at the Palace.
President Arroyo, Vice President Noli de Castro were invited but the mayor said the two declined because of prior appointments.
To ensure that politics is kept at bay during the celebration in honor of the Sto. Niño, organizers of the Dinagyang Festival left out local and national officials in the program, except for Treñas, who will give the opening and closing remarks.
The three-termer mayor, an administration stalwart, is well aware that Malacañang hopefuls may take advantage of the huge number of spectators to promote themselves, especially with the 2010 presidential elections nearing.
“We took extra caution,” he said, “We want to maintain the religiosity of the Dinagyang,”the mayor explained. According to Treñas, “politicians were not given any speaking part in the program. The organizers really left them out. I am the only one who has a speaking part.”
However, stage announcers shall only acknowledge the presence of invited guests.
“We’re not that ill-mannered as not to recognize their presence,” the mayor said.
But politicians are not prevented from going down the grandstand and into the people. “They can go down from the Grandstand and shake hands with the people if they want. We won’t prevent them,”
the mayor said.
In jest, the mayor said, “but I would welcome it if the presidentiables give out siopao to the people. That’s for the good of the people watching the Dinagyang.”
They may also distribute free items, like cardboard fans, caps, t-shirts, pens, among other things. “Anyway that would be useful,” Treñas said, referring to cardboard fans and caps.
Last year, cardboard fans and caps bearing the pictures of senators and their political parties were distributed among spectators during the Dinagyang’s highlight.