Bad News for Lumad Basakanon

Champion Free Interpretation Category, Sinulog Festival 2014

Tribu Lumad Basakanon, Brgy San Nicolas Basak Cebu City

A re post from the news of http://www.sunstar.com.ph/ "Lumad Basakanon not joining Aliwan Festival" By Princess Dawn H. Felicitas Wednesday, January 22, 2014

FOR financial reasons, Basak-San Nicolas Barangay Captain George Rama said he doesn’t want Lumad Basakanon to join in the Aliwan Festival in Pasay City in April. In an interview with Sun.Star Cebu yesterday, Rama said they need at least P3 million to join Aliwan, an amount which for him is too big to raise.

Rama said he would prefer that such amount be used to address different problems in the barangay or in the city, or to help typhoon and earthquake survivors. “Ganahan ko muadto. Ganahan sad ang mga dancers. Pero daghan pa kaayog problema oy. Daghang trahediya. Kung muadto mi didto dako kaayo ang gasto kay mahal man ang plite (I’d love to go. The dancers would love to go. But we have so many problems right now),” he said.

Rama said they will have to spend for the boat fare from Cebu to Manila and back for the estimated 400 dancers, props men and support staff of Lumad Basakanon. It does not include yet the different committees for the contingent.

Asked if they will not use the more than P2 million they won in the Sinulog grand parade, Rama said he prefers that the money be divided among the Basakanon dancers and props men.

It will serve as a reward for them for all the effort they put in during the three months they practiced for the Sinulog grand parade free interpretation category, he said.

On asking financial assistance from the City, Rama said he is not optimistic about it, considering that the City Council rejected their request in 2013.

Goodluck for Lumad!!