“Level up mo tanan.”
This was the challenge posed by Gov. Gwen Garcia to all mayors in Cebu Province as 50 LGUs gear up for the upcoming Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Festivals in August this year.
During the Provincial Development Council meeting on Thursday, April 27, mayors present confirmed their participation to the annual event that showcases the best of Cebu’s unique festivals from each of its municipalities and component cities.
Provincial tourism officer Marti Ybañez told Sugbo News that a total of 50 LGUs — 44 municipalities, five component cities, and one highly urbanized city — have signified intent to once again join the festival competition that is held in time for the Province’s founding anniversary celebration.
This is the same number of LGUs that competed last year, with guest performances from the cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu — making it truly a One Cebu Island Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival Showdown.
“How else will you be pushed to walk that extra mile and excel even higher than you ever expected? Level up mo tanan,” Gov. Gwen said.
This was the governor’s response to Tabuelan Mayor Raul Gerona’s suggestion of creating a separate category for LGUs that are usually award winning in the festival showdown to give a chance to those that are deemed underdogs to also shine.
Instead, the governor told the mayors to be creative and innovative and so take their respective festivals to another level.
Gov. Gwen recalled a time when today’s perennial winners also used to be bottom feeders. But through persistence and determination, they stuck to their identities which their performers eventually imbibed and perfected over time.
She said there’s no reason for the LGUs not to be able to step up as they are given equal amount of subsidy from the Capitol for their festival expenses.
She challenged them to “think about” their overall performance and be consistent in their festival identity, citing musicality as a huge factor. | Carlo Lorenciana
