SOME PEOPLE are making an issue on what the newly constructed grandstand near the also newly renovated Sunburst Park will be called.
Really, it’s just a name, why make a big fuss out of it? It’s not like it’s a matter of life or death or it would affect the lives of the natives in “I Am Iloilo City.”
There are far bigger issues right now that really will affect the lives of the natives i.e. the impasse at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol where the obvious political stunts of the majority members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in stalling and preventing the passage of Iloilo province’s budget will delay the due salaries and increases of the 2,000 regular employees of the Iloilo provincial government.
So why not make a fuss over that instead of a name that, for all intents and purposes, is probably the most logical name for it as that grandstand was purposely constructed for “I Am Iloilo City’s” biggest annual festival…the Dinagyang.
Besides if it’s really giving some people sleepless nights agonizing as what to call that new grandstand, “chill”, it’s not the end of the world as Mayor Joe Espinosa III said the name … ”Iloilo City Dinagyang Grandstand” is just temporary.
Excerpts from the Jan. 12, 2019 issue of Panay News:
What’s the name of city’s new grandstand?
“Iloilo City Dinagyang Grandstand.” This is the temporary name of the new grandstand that replaced the demolished old Iloilo Freedom Grandstand, according to Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
There is a process to follow in officially naming the new grandstand, he stressed, and public consultations are crucial.
Under Section 13 (Naming of Local Government Units and Public Places, Streets and Structures) of the Local Government Code, it is the Sangguniang Panlungsod which has the authority.
According to Espinosa, he thought of temporarily calling the new grandstand along Muelle Loney Street “Iloilo City Dinagyang Grandstand” to focus the public’s attention to the upcoming Dinagyang Festival.
The highlights of the Dinagyang – the Kasadyahan cultural contest on Jan. 26 and ati-ati tribes’ competition on Jan. 27 – would be staged at the new grandstand.
Yesterday, the Dinagyang opening salvo was held at the new grandstand.
Espinosa said several suggested grandstand names reached his office. Among these were “Muelle Loney Grandstand” and “Graciano Lopez-Jaena Grandstand”.
There were previous suggestions to just keep the name “Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.”
Espinosa said the new grandstand’s name “should have relevance” and “something that reflects the history of Iloilo City.”
There was a proposal, too, to name the new grandstand in honor of the late Ilonggo senator Rodolfo “Roding” Ganzon.
The old Iloilo Freedom Grandstand was a memorial to the Iloilo City Freedom Law or Republic Act 1209 that Ganzon authored in 1955 empowering the people of Iloilo City to elect their own leaders.
According to Espinosa, every proposal would be considered.
“I’m open to suggestions. I will not impose my own preference,” he stressed.
There you go. As the good Mayor Espinosa said, the name “Iloilo City Dinagyang Grandstand” is just temporary; it’s not written in stone yet as a proper legal process will be followed in giving that grandstand its permanent and proper name.
So folks, rest easy now as the “I Am Iloilo City” government is still open to accept proposals on what your preferred name for the new grandstand will be.
On a personal note, here’s my own take: the new grandstand should be called “Iloilo City Dinagyang Grandstand” for the following reasons:
One, the grandstand was built for one specific purpose although it appears and it can be used for other purposes i.e. open air concerts, political rallies, but really its main reason for being is to serve as the main grandstand, judging and performance area for the highlights of the Dinagyang Festival.
Two, except for the Dinagyang Festival which happens annually on a regular fix schedule there are no other uses for that grandstand and it just becomes a “bedroom” and “toilet” for the homeless and the occasional drunk too wasted to go home.
Three, the rest of the year the grandstand is just a parking area for government vehicles.
Just so not to offend and likewise still honor the “original” purpose why a grandstand called “Iloilo Freedom Grandstand was built on the Sunburst Park grounds, a commemorative plaque stated it was a memorial to the Iloilo City Freedom Law or Republic Act 1209 authored by the late senator Rodolfo Ganzon in 1955 empowering the people of Iloilo City to elect their own leaders.
And all of that has nothing to do with siopao. But if you must really eat one then by all means bon appetit. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)
