POLITICIANS and celebrities were in Cebu City to hobnob with the public for the Sinulog festivities yesterday.
Former senator Miguel Zubiri, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño mingled with the crowd in General Maxilom Avenue.
But it was the Manila showbiz celebrities on floats who made the crowd go wild.
Spectators shrieked when singer Ogie Alcasid (ML Kwarta Padala), actors Derek Ramsey, Iza Calzado, and Miss Universe titlists Venus Raj and Shamsey Supsup (360 Pharmacy), and Gerald Anderson and Angelica Panganiban passed by.
The celebs waved and distributed shirts and fans to the crowd.
CITY HALL’S BEAUTY
Former Miss Earth beauty Karla Paula Henry danced with the Cebu City government contingent. She was a Sinulog queen of the city contingent in 2009.
However, her role this time was one of personal thanksgiving after her recovery from a stabbing incident in Manila last year. (She was attacked in the garage of her condo unit by a drunk man with a smashed beer bottle, a case of random violence.)
SEÑORITA GWEN
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia joined the parade with Capitol department heads clad in yellow and black Mexican-inspired costumes.
Garcia rode a horse-drawn carriage at the start of their performance with Argao’s La Torta Festival. Garcia briefly stayed at the grandstand with Zubiri. They were joined by Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
Also at the VIP section were members of the Beautiful Cebu Movement led by businesswoman-philanthropist Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung.
Asst. Secretary Eugene Cao of the Department of Tourism was accompanied by tourism directors from Region 7 and 9.
Officials from Zamboanga Sibugay and Batac, Ilocos Norte also came for the festivity.
TOMMY WITH TEENS
Where’s Tommy?
A smiling Rep. Tomas Osmeña rode the float of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Cebu City along Mango Avenue to Fuente Osmena.
He waved to the crowd while a singer belted out R&B songs. Teenage SK members danced in front and behind the float.
Osmeña and wife Margot, a Cebu city councilor, didn’t use their VIP section tickets at the grandstand.
VP ON THE STREETS
After his brief “Pit Senyor!” greeting at the Cebu City Sports Center, Vice President Jejomar Binay left to walk around the streets.
He walked through Osmena Boulevard to Fuente Osmeña then Gen. Maxilom Avenue, shaking hands and posing whenever a fan would call out his name for a photo-op.
Five close-in security aides were busy keeping up with him.
Sinulog snapshots
Business leader Gordon “Dondi” Joseph hit the streets with photographers competing in the Sinulog photo contest.
“I’ve always loved photography. This is a fabulous event; it’s full of life,” Joseph said.
Armed with a wide lens and a DSLR camera, Joseph aproached his subjects in silent motion despite the thick crowd along Mango Avenue.
The Cebu Business Club president said it was his second time to join the contest.
Photography has been a long-time hobby. He said said he joined the Sinulog photo seeking to capture “Sinulog stories” in images. reports of Carmel Matus, Candeze R. Mongaya, Dale Israel and Marian Codilla