CEBU CITY, Philippines ? Politicians seeking national posts unabashedly did their sorties and took advantage of the tens of thousands of people, who packed the streets of the city for the world-famous Sinulog Festival on Sunday.

Six million to 8 million people watched the 30th Sinulog grand parade despite the incessant rain, according to police. And where the crowd were, the politicians were not far behind.

Leading the pack of candidates, who made sure their faces registered with the crowd were Nacionalista Party presidential candidate Senator Manny Villar, his running mate Sen. Loren Legarda and members of his senatorial slate?lawyer Adel Tamano, Representative Bongbong Marcos, party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo, former Rep. Gilbert Remulla, Susan Ople and Gwen Pimentel.

Villar and his party even broke the security line and shook hands with spectators.

Villar?s party had just arrived from Kalibo town in Aklan where they also took part in the Ati-Atihan Festival, held on the same day as the Sinulog and also in honor of Sto. Niño, Cebu?s patron saint.

Administration senator and re-electionist Ramon ?Bong? Revilla decided not to take to the streets and went instead to the Cebu City Sports Center, where the contingents? final dances were held and judged.

Revilla, who came with fellow actor Philip Salvador, was mobbed by the crowd at the
CCSC. At least 20,000 spectators came.

Administration senatorial candidate Rey Langit and Press Secretary Cerge Remonde were at the sports center as early as 8 a.m.

Actor Cesar Montano, a candidate for governor in Bohol, was in one of the floats in the grand parade that kicked off at 1 p.m.

Other movie and television personalities were present to promote their shows and soap operas.

Actor Richard Gutierrez and other GMA 7 artists boarded the GMA 7 float, with fans shrieking and waving their hands as the float passed by.

Actress and host Valerie Concepcion was in the float of a product she was promoting.

Actors Eddie Gutierrez and Pilita Corales were seen mingling with the crowd. They did not cause commotion, but some fans had their pictures taken with them.

Lucy Torres and Claudine Barreto marched in front of the sports center?s grandstand and later boarded a float.

But the biggest disruption was the heavy downpour at 3 p.m., which prompted the organizers to suspend for several minutes the performances at the sports center.

Rains poured in as early as 9 a.m. but this did not deter the dancers from various contingents to line up at their designated areas for the carousel parade.

Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of the Sinulog Foundation, said the presence of politicians and show business personalities had been a usual sight during the 30 years of the festival.

?It just took a special significance yesterday because it is election period,? but Ballesteros said it was ?okay? since politicians were not allowed to give speeches.

Some political banners hanging along the parade route were removed, he said.

Chief Supt. Lani-O Nerez, chief of regional police, described the Sinulog Festival as ?very successful,? although several persons were victimized by pickpockets. Some pickpockets were arrested, he said.

If the crowd during the solemn procession on Saturday reached 2 million, Nerez said the grand parade was witnessed by an estimated 8 million people.