The Provincial Government of Cebu is holding responsible Alberca Lights and Sounds for the massive “technical boo-boos” bordering on sabotage the recently concluded Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2023.
Alberca Sounds and Lights is the supplier contracted by the Capitol to handle the LED wall, as well as audio components of the festival showdown.
In a press conference on Sunday, August 28, the governor explained that Capitol had no control over the various technical glitches that riddled the staging of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo ritual showdown held on Sunday in Carcar City.
“That is why, para nako, it has to be Mr. Alberca ang manubag sa kapalpakan nga nahitabo kagabii,” the governor said in response to those who put the blame to Capitol’s “generic” production team.
“Pila na man ni ka Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, karon pa ni nahitabo. Sobra naman ni nga nahitabo nga technical failures nga sobra na nga magduda naman ta ani,” the governor was quoted as she expressed her displeasure during the height of the repeated glitches that occurred while performances were ongoing.
The glitches ranged from the loss of audio and video support in the mayors’ introductions, to losing lights and music altogether while the performances were underway, forcing some contingents to do a retake and start from the top.
These glitches were committed on the side of Alberca, as these things belong to their side of the contract.
The governor said she was able to count 15 technical glitches and ironically this happened when major contingents were performing like Toledo City and Mandaue City -- which had to repeat their performance thrice.
She said she considers this incident a sabotage specially since it was found out that the owner of Alberca is the father of the winning Festival Queen Jhesidy Thea Alberca.
“I’m calling it a sabotage because by the very fact alone that Mr. Alberca did not care to divulge that his own daughter was a candidate for Pasigarbo Festival Queen. Para nako that was really unethical and could lead to suspicion, not just me, but other people, nga gisabotahe,” she said.
The festival queens, who were the de facto lead dancers of the contingents, were judged not only based on their solo performances but also in their group presentations.
By causing an uncharacteristic glitch when usual favorites were on stage, the chances of festival queens leading them were also diminished, the governor said while noting that Carcar did not have any issues in its performance.
Recompute
Online viewers via Sugbo News were down from last year as a result of the glitches. And so did the quality of votes cast, as some were turned off by the glitches and held them against the unfortunate contingents.
Because of this, Gov. Gwen ordered a recomputation of tabulated scores by assigning only 15% for online votes in the overall score, giving the professional opinion of judges more weight at 85%.
The governor also postponed the awarding ceremony scheduled on Monday afternoon while re-computation will be done, while also considering the present weather situation.
“You are asking me I am changing the rules in the middle of the game? Well, I also did not expect that we will be sabotaged in last night’s production,” she said.
She said fairness and justice demand that she speak about the matter and implement changes, regardless that she will be criticized for it as long as she gives voice to the frustrations of many contingents who were clearly on the wrong end of justice.
It could be possible that with the changes done in the tabulation, a different set of winners would emerge, she said as she “warned” the mayors about the possible changes.
Inadequate equipment
Meantime, the Capitol production team took note that Alberca had inadequate equipment and were unable to fulfill their obligation.
Ms. Margarita Frasco noted that Alberca was not able to provide back-up of the audio-visual presentations resulting to its failure to transmit to the LED wall, which entirely affected how contingents delivered their performances.
Sugbo News head Paula Mendoza also noted that during the Sinulog sa Carmen in January this year, a similar incident happened.
She said Capitol provided them (Alberca) with AVPs needed days prior to the event and conducted a dry-run.
And during the said dry-run, a glitch occurred and one of the AVPs failed to show on the LED screen.
Mendoza said because of this, she told one of Alberca’s staff to change the computer they’re using and create a back-up incase the AVP will not run during the actual event.
In the end, one AVP failed to play during the actual Sinulog sa Carmen.
Meanwhile, Provincial Legal Officer Donato Villa Jr. said they are looking into rescinding the contract with Alberca which would mean they will not get paid for the remaining balance or the second option, which is to pay them their remaining balance. | PIO with reports from Ioannes P. Arong
