No bikini shows during Holy Week, execs urged

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma urged commercial outlets not to hold bikini shows in the province during the Holy Week.

“I hope there would be no bikini shows, this being a season of prayer and reflection,” he told reporters yesterday. Palma said all the Church is asking for is “propriety.”

“Why would some people do it (bikini shows) on Holy Week when there are other times of the year. The Holy Week is meant for reflection and prayers. This should be an event for us to be closer to the Lord,” he said.

In 2009, a bikini show at the Sugar Beach resort in Sta. Fe town during the Holy Week resulted in charges filed by the Cebu provincial government against the event organizers and two of its stars Maui Taylor and Jennifer Lee.

The province said the shows violate the Provincial Women’s Code which prohibit programs that degrade women as commodities.

Taylor and Lee issued a public apology to the Cebuanos for the show.

Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale also issued a reminder to the public about the ordinance prohibiting the bikini shows and other indecent activities during the Holy Week.

Magpale, chairperson of the Provincial Women’s Commission, authored the Provincial Women’s Code (PWC).

She urged local government officials to monitor activities and events in their areas.

Magpale said local officials should not grant permits to any one wishing to hold bikini shows during the Holy Week.

San Francisco Mayor Aly Arquillano said he expects more tourists to visit during the Holy Week.

Bookings were filled up as early as last month, he said.

“We have no bikini shows here. But bands will be allowed to play on Maundy Thursday and resume on Black Saturday,” he said.

Cebu City Rep. Tomas Osmeña of the south district said the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) sponsored an amateur talent show in barangay Basak Pardo and not a gay bikini show as earlier reported.

Osmeña said his group through former Sangguniang Kabataan city federation president Rengel Pelayo organized youth volunteers to perform in different barangays especially during fiestas.

Basak Pardo barangay captain Dave Tumulak said in Monday that he was scolded by Osmeña after he stopped their gay bikini fashion show in his barangay on Sunday night. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac with Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol and Correspondent Christine Emily L. Pantaleon