Reacting to the provincial government’s decision to cancel this year’s Baragatan Festival, losing gubernatorial bet Arthur Ventura announced Wednesday he will lead a “simple celebration” of the province’s founding anniversary on June 18, and invited “everybody” to participate.
“Dapat sana maski isang simpleng misa just to commemorate the founding anniversary. Hindi naman kailangan ng selebrasyon na bongga, one Holy Mass with all Palaweños to bind together sapat na,” Ventura said.
He said that it is not required to have a grand celebration because “the most important is to commemorate the establishment of civil government in the simplest way.”
Ventura invited the public to join the celebration at his Ventura Beach Resort in Barangay Bancao-Bancao.
Original Cuyuno cuisine will be prepared during the feast, he said.
“Ako gusto ko pasalamatan ang mga tao na gusto sumali sa akin, makisaya at welcome. Lahat ng tao, mga munisipyo na gustong makisaya at ang titikman natin ay puro pagkaing Cuyuno. Everybody is invited,” Ventura said.
The decision of the provincial government to cancel this year’s Baragatan Festival has triggered negative reactions from Palawan netizens.
Caesar Sammy Magbanua, Provincial Information Officer, explained that the decision of Governor Alvarez to set aside the holding of the annual convergence festival was due to many factors, one of which was that the municipalities have no budget to participate.
Magbanua said that they will commemorate the Civil Government’s anniversary on June 23 with simple activities at the Provincial Capitol.
“Noong mag-survey kami sa mga LGUs (local government units) ay marami rin ang nag-backout kasi karamihan ay walang inilaan na budget. Kaya ‘yan din ang naging desisyon natin na wala muna. Actually, mayroon tayong mga activities sa mismong araw pero hindi katulad dati. Sana irespeto na lang rin nila,” Magbanua said.
