Dinagyang casualty
One person was stabbed to death along Ledesma Street at the end of the Dinagyang revelry early morning of Monday. This simply shows that our policemen failed to thoroughly check people entering the downtown area if they were bringing deadly weapons. Moreover, it was reported that there was a delayed response from policemen when the commotion happened that resulted to the stabbing of the victim. It is the duty of our law enforcers to secure the people enjoying the Dinagyang celebration. They should not reason out that they were already tired and weak during that time that is why they had a delayed response.
Lousy tribes
Mayor JPT may have said that this year's Dinagyang performances were the best. This section begs to disagree. We say, this is the first time that certain tribes – specifically Himala, Angola and Hamili – showed a very lousy performance in which the Dinagyang executive committee, in the very beginning, should not have allowed them to perform. The audience applauded the said tribes but for sure they did not find their performance worth watching. The three tribes lack funds reason why they don't have a good costume, lack performers and props. “Ginguba lang nila ang maayo nga presentation sang iban nga mga tribu,” said one observer who buys ticket at Freedom Grandstand every year to watch the Dinagyang tribes contest.
Brute approach
Retired police officer Dionisio Duco, chief of security at Judging Area No.1 (Freedom Grandstand) during the Dinagyang Festival, justified the forcible removal of two photojournalists Joe Haresh Tanodra and Ricky Alejo from the judging area shortly before the start of the tribes competition last Sunday. He said their IDs indicate that they should not be there in Judging Area No.1 and that they were already warned a day before, that is, during the Kasadyahan contest. Amen to that, but it does not justify dragging them out of the judging area like criminals and in full view of thousands of people awaiting the start of the tribes contest. Definitely, there was much better (read: discreet) way to rid them from Judging Area No.1.