CHOREOGRAPHER Victor Cuenco would have wanted to pay performers in the Sinulog grand finale immediately after their performance like he would usually do during the last seven years.
But “overwhelmed” by media interviews, Cuenco told his performers to instead see him after the Sinulog awarding ceremonies scheduled the next day, to collect their talent fee.
“Wala ko mag too nga ma apil di ay sa kawat ang among kwarta (I never thought that the money for the grand finale will be among those which where stolen from the Sinulog Foundation office),” he told Cebu Daily News.
Although uncertain if he would still be able to recover the lost money, Cuenco who was also choreographer of the contingent from Placer, Masbate which won the grand prize in the Sinulog Based category said he still managed to sponsor two lechon during the victory with his dance troupe last week.
Cuenco said he is now waiting for the Sinulog Foundation’s refund of the P757,000 grand finale budget so that he could also start to pay his talents.
He is also collecting part of the refund amounting to P100,000 as his talent fee.
Cuenco said he received the P757,000 cash on Friday and turned it over to the Sinulog Foundation for safekeeping.
He planned of giving out the money to his performers after the Sinulog finale.
As practiced since he became Sinulog grand finale director in 2005, he would usually sort out the cash and place these on individual envelops for release to grand finale performers.
Dance groups like those coming from the different schools and universities and the dance sport team are paid talent fee ranging from P10, 000 to P20, 000 and depending on the number of participating performers./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac