Gwen to dance as thanksgiving

Since Cebu was spared from two typhoons last year, Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia said she is dancing again in the Sinulog to thank the Sto. Niño.

“Twice Cebu was in the path of typhoons that suddenly changed course. We are very thankful for that,” she said yesterday.

The governor will be dancing with Argao town’s contingent from the La Torta Festival for her eighth year of joining the Sinulog grand parade.

Couture designer Cary Santiago will make her gown.

“I will also pray for the continued protection of our beloved Cebu and for myself, continued guidance of the Sto. Niño that I may always follow the path His will has charted out for me,” said Garcia.

La Torta Festival won third place overall in last year’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, a province-wide competition of Cebu town’s best festival dances.

“Traditionally, I would have danced with the top winner of the Pasigarbo but I was told that Carcar town will participate in the Sinulog as a regular contingent as well as the Isda Festival of Madridejos,” she said.

Argao’s festival, La Torta, is named after the town’s famous delicacy—torta, sweet cakes baked with egg yolks, flour and pork lard.

The Capitol will mount a float in the parade decorated with the theme of Aragao’s La Torta festival, which Garcia said is a reminder of Cebu’s Spanish roots.

“This is related to the history of Cebu. The first governor was Spanish,” she said.

The southern town will receive financial assistance from the Capitol for the major presentation. /correspondent carmel louise matus