Governor Gwen ‘undecided’ on return of Pasigarbo next year

Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia said that it is still undecided if there will a Pasigarbo celebration next year during a press conference on Friday, September 8,2023. | Christian Dave Quizon

CEBU CITY, Philippines — With the mishaps that have occurred in this year’s celebration of the annual Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, the governor of Cebu has admitted that there has been no confirmation yet if it will be held again next year.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said at a press conference on Friday, September 9, 2023.

“It’s time to step back usa, kay usahay makadismaya (It’s time to just step back for now, because sometimes it can really disappoint you). As I said, we don’t mind the outside noise,” said Garcia.

READ: Technical glitches mar Pasigarbo 2023

Technical errors hit Pasigarbo

Garcia was referring to individuals who spread speculations of the contest being rigged and criticizing the way it was organized that resulted to the mishaps.

This year’s Pasigarbo held at the New Carcar City Sports Complex in Carcar City, Cebu caused a commotion after technical errors interrupted various performances of contingents on August 27, 2023.

READ: Pasigarbo ‘technical boo-boos’: What we know so far

Governor Gwen Garcia: Sabotage

The technical glitches marred the culmination of the “festival of all festivals” and caused Garcia to even scold the audio and lights provider during the event.

Garcia then accused the company responsible for the sounds, Alberca Sounds and Lights Rentals, of sabotaging the event, which they denied.

Due to the problems, Garcia instructed for a reevaluation of the results and postponed the awarding ceremony originally scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on August 28 at the Carcar City Sports Complex.

READ: Gwen: Technical errors in Pasigarbo a sabotage; Recomputation of results set

New Pasigarbo winners

On Wednesday, September 6, the new set of winners for the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2023 were announced through a live stream by the local government.

While Carcar City was given the title of grand champion of the ritual showdown during the initial announcement, Minglanilla’s Sugat Kabanhawan Festival emerged as the final and official champion.

Carcar City landed in sixth place.

READ: Pasigarbo sounds and lights provider denies sabotage claims

Gov. Gwen Garcia: Results decided in fairest way

Garcia told reporters that this time, the results were decided in the fairest way which awarded the best of the best among the 50 contingents.

“If you’re the best really, it’s the best. So ayaw na lang mo kahasol diha og ang resulta nga karon (So don’t be bothered if the results are these now), I think it’s the fairest way to go,” she said.

She also said that the online votes were not counted because it would be unfair for the teams that peformed towards the end when people were less inclined to vote after a repeat of the performances.

READ: LIST: ‘New’ Pasigarbo 2023 winners

How new winners were decided

Instead, the winners were decided through the use of three methodologies: total average scores, total raw scores from judges, and judges’ ranking per event.

Garcia also said that because as she felt that the final winners were ‘robbed’ of their chance to truly shine and bask in their glory, a repeat of the performances would be held during the International Eucharistic Congress on October 7.

The top 15 winners in the grand ritual showdown will present their dance again along with the top five of the Festival Queens.

The final venue of the presentation has yet to be finalized, according to Garcia.

READ: ‘It’s sad but we will accept’ – Carcar mayor on new Pasigarbo results

Repeat performances

The governed said that the contingents would be using the P1 million funding that was given to them by the local government as budget for their second performance.

Garcia also said that for the repeat performances, they would be hiring a new team to be responsible for the sound and lights system.

“That was when I learned nga naa pa man diay uban nga mga…just as equipped with the same mga kinahanglanon nga mga [equipment]. So we will get another one,” she said.

(That was when I learned that there are still others…just as equipped with the same needed [equipment]. So we will get another one.)

READ: Gwen takes a quick break from Capitol to travel abroad with family

Governor Gwen Garcia: Quick break from Capitol

On the other hand, Garcia said that she would be taking a leave of absence for a personal trip to Italy to spend time with her family from September 9 to 19.

In her absence, Vice Governor Hilario Davide III will be the acting governor of Cebu and assume the responsibilities of Garcia.

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