Noynoy, Erap, Binay invited to Sinulog

THE country’s top officials are expected to come to Cebu to attend the Sinulog Festival on Jan. 20.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he sent invitations  to President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III, Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, and former President Joseph Estrada.

There’s no confirmation  or reply yet, he said.

“Ug muadto sila, salamat. Kung dili, maytag muadto gihapon sila (If they  come, thank you. If not, I still hope they would come)” said Rama.

In the past two years, he sent formaly invitations to only  Aquino and Binay.

Aquino attended Sinulog  2011 celebration while Binay joined the festival last year.

This year, however, City Hall sent invitations  to Enrile and Estrada, both leaders of the  United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) Party.

Rama said he won’t  ask the entire UNA slate to come  to avoid being understood as letting them campaign.

“Basin unya’g mu-ingon sila’g pamolitika ba (Maybe they would accuse me of using it for politics)” he said.

Of the  four, only Aquino and Binay will be allowed to speak during the program at the Cebu City Sports Center, he said.

The mayor said these top officials already know that politics should not be tackled in their speeches as the Sinulog Festival is a religious  and cultural activity.

“They know that the Sinulog Foundation is  very particular about  that.” /Correspondent  Andrea Patena