PALO, Leyte- While the mayor of this town is the driving force behind a multi-million cultural extravaganza, the Kasadyaan Festival, she frowns in holding a local beauty search due to high cost of staging it.
Mayor Remedios ‘Matin’ Petilla said that holding a Miss Palo during its annual town fiesta would not only entail lots of preparation but especially, would cost a lot.
Petilla, who is now on her third and final term as mayor of this bustling town, said that the money that they would spend in staging a Miss Palo could better be used to other activities relative to their town fiesta.
“It’s very expensive to have a Miss Palo. You have to spend a lot in inviting judges, for one. The money that we will spend for the holding of the Miss Palo could better be used to other activities,” Petilla said during a media press conference.
Palo will observe its 188th fiesta on August 6 with series of activities been lined up by the municipal government.
Among these activities include sports competitions, agriculture and trade fair and nightly activities which include presentation of local dances and culture.
Mayor Petilla, who is known for being a perfectionist, said that if ever they would stage a Miss Palo activity, she would make it sure that it would be a grand presentation.
“It should not pale in comparison with the Miss Universe or Miss World staging,” she quipped.
Mayor Petilla, while she was the governor of Leyte, initiated the staging of the Kasadyaan Festival, a high-level cultural festival event in the province held during the annual fiesta of Tacloban City.
The Kasadyaan Festival, which has now fused with another festival, Pintados Festival, is now considered as the region’s premier cultural festival.
Mayor Petilla said that while they make sure that the people of Palo and their guests will have a good time during the entire town fiesta celebration, the funds allocated by the municipal government will still be minimal.
It was learned from Councilor Wilson Uy that for this year, the municipal government has allocated P2.8 million to be spent for all fiesta-related activities.
He also said that the entire amount may not be dispense as they also sought financial assistance from private donors as well as from the provincial government of Leyte.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)