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We have received from someone (who witnessed the events and is knowledgeable with what are happening inside), an unsigned note with the following comment:
"... as for the fiesta itself, besides the calamity the general area experienced days before the fiesta, the economics and politics are the main reasons why there are less participants this year and probably in the future.
"The obvious reasons are, for example, in the case the Naile group: For them to enter and be qualified as an Ati-ati Group, 1) their group must have at least 50 participants, 2) they have to join the street dancings at least once, on the eve of the fiesta - Saturday, 3) and at least once during the D-day itself, 4) plus they are required to join the procession at the end of the day. All 4 conditions must be satisfied or the group will be disqualified. Hence Naile, and other far-away baranggays were not able to participate in this category.
"On the expenses point of view, the participating groups have to provide their own means of transportation to and from their respective barangays, provide their own food, and/or find place/s to eat/rest during those two days. Don't forget, we're talking of groups with at least 50 participants each!!! No facility to house them, and even the space under the bridge could not be good enough!
"As a result under these conditions, this year there were only three entries for the Ati-ati Group category – the Pangpang, Naisud, and Maloco. The ones missing that participated on last year's event on this same category are Naile, Regador, Buenavista, Colongcolong, Bugtongbato, Agdugayan. On Float category, there were quite a few, 'cause they only have to showup twice during the fiesta.
"And what will they get in return if they win? They get P30K - First Place - that is, if they win, plus an entry allowance of P3K.
"The sad part is: there are supposed to have a total of 5 winners for the Ati-ati Group and the Float categories. The total donated prizes for both groups was P150K. Since there were only 3 entries awarded, what happened to the rest of the prize? Well, turned out it went to a catering company, which happened to be owned by a politician. Nilagay pa nila sa receipt.
"Prize donors, please take note ... Time will come, there will be no more organize ati-ati. You can keep you prize money, donors. It doesn't serve its purpose." |
