By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
KABANKALAN City’s 10-day Sinulog Festival culminated Sunday, Jan. 15, with a bang! It was at its finest and grandest, perhaps.
Behind such a tremendous success was a somewhat “ghastly” story coupled with “inexorable” pressure over the festival budget. But Mayor Benjie Miranda, hailed as an “incidental mayor” of this “Tiger City” in the southern part of Negros Occidental, thanked the heavens that faith in God prevailed over politics.
Hence, this year’s 47th Sinulog de Kabankalan was themed “Sto. Niño, Modelo sang Tingub nga Pagpanglakaton sang Katawhan sang Dios.”
Note-perfect, indeed! However, let’s be factual. Kabankalan’s politics is currently “messy”. Mayor Miranda’s unexpected victory in the May 9 elections last year stunned the still Zayco-dominated Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP). So, budget-wise, it is as if everything is like “a camel going through the eye of the needle.”
The mayor admitted that with the P268-million current reduction in their 2023 National Tax Allotment (NTA), they have really gone through a lot for the approval of the more or less P18-M fiesta budget. So, he thanked the Sinulog Foundation, Inc. (SFI), now headed by sitting Councilor Rey Cordova, for a “meaningful push” on the proposed budget.
Too, being cognizant about Sinulog de Kabankalan as a village chief of Barangay Tan-awan for 11 years, it also helped him a lot to convince the SP to somehow level-up after the two-year lull due to COVID-19 pandemic and the “killer” super-typhoon “Odette” that maimed their city in December 2021.
And just armed with zealous devotion to the Sto. Niño, it is as if they “miraculously hurdled everything”, thanks to their uncompromising faith in the Child Jesus.
Therefore, the mayor is beyond grateful to Vice Mayor Migz Zayco and all the councilors for their “significant support” that made the 47th Sinulog truly a resounding success.
TOGETHERNESS
Moreover, the sermon of Bishop Louie Galbines of the Diocese of Kabankalan during the concelebrated Sinulog Mass on Jan. 15 all about togetherness also abetted the politically-partite situation in the city.
The prelate reminded everyone that only togetherness can make them (Kabankalanons) more than stronger amidst adversities.
During the opening salvo on Jan.6, Bishop Galbines also told Kabankalanons at the plaza, “Mag-isa kag magpalangga-anay ang tagsa-tagsa para sa pagpanglakaton, wala may mabilin, wala may madula.”
Quite a touching entreaty, right?
Thus, Councilor Cordero shared that Kabankalanons’ will to rise anew fast from the COVID-19 pandemic and the madness brought by typhoon “Odette” is even beyond fervid.
The city dad cited the number of this year’s spectators which, he claimed, almost tripled their conservative estimate of 35,000 during the highlight.
“Yes, it surpassed our expectation,” punctuated by City Administrator Randy Siason, referring to revelers that flooded the plaza and downtown area of Kabankalan day and night of Jan.15.
HUMDINGER ACT
Meanwhile, unknown to some, the gist of the “untold story” for this year’s Sinulog de Kabankalan was the so-called humdinger act of the neophyte mayor.
Take note of the subsidies and prizes he poured just for the grand tribal dance tilt.
Each of the eight competing tribes got P1-M for subsidy for their costumes, props, food, trainers’ fee, among other expenses.
For prizes:
* Champion -P120,000 in cash + P2-M worth of project(s) for their barangay.
* First Runner Up- P100,000 in cash + P1.5 worth of project(s) for their barangay.
* Second Runner-Up – P 80,000 in cash + P1-M worth of project(s) for their barangay.
* Third Runner-Up- P50,000 in cash + P750,000 worth of projects for their barangay.
* Each of the four non-winning tribes received P30,000 in cash + P300,000 worth of project(s) for their respective barangay.
Really, this is history!
As far I as my personal knowledge is concerned, no mayor in the province ever made this kind of “showering galore” of fabulous subsidies and prizes in their respective town or city festival.
Au pond, Mayor Miranda, who came from an indigenous people (IP) community, until now, is perceived to be someone who doesn’t know the intricacies of politics or public service down pat.
And six months after he surprisingly won as mayor, still, many are “doubtful” if he can manage the “Billionaire City” like Kabankalan.
But it seems that Kabankalanons are now gradually embracing his “imperfections” and letting him perform sans pretentions.
Being relatable to the “masa” is Mayor Miranda’s powerful asset. And the recently-concluded 47th Sinulog de Kabankalan really mirrored how “notable” he is as an ordinary man yet faithful and valuable public servant./PN
