Carnival
Other than the lack of history and meaning, parading with wooden guns is the most pathetic thing in the parade, according to anthropologist and Naga City Mayoral Awardee 2009 Tito Valiente. Further, the use of toy guns is carnivalesque. There is nothing wrong with real soldiers marching with real guns, according to him. But there is really something ridiculous with non-soldiers parading non-guns during a non-military event.
Anti-Cultural
During this Bikol renaissance, when Bikolano writers and Bikolano artists are being honored in the mainstream, our consciousness should always be fashioned by the question, what is Bikol about what I am doing or writing?
What is indeed Bikol about Military Parade? The uniforms are strangely western. There is no trace of Bikol history and culture in that parade. What educational value does the public gain from witnessing the military parade?
Cost Effectiveness
UNEP (University of Northeastern Philippines), one of the participating schools, angrily wrote the organizers and expressed its sentiments. "We cannot hide the fact that this had truly upset us. We came all the way from Iriga City. Our school spent hundreds of thousands of pesos to show our best performance in the competition. Our Majorettes practiced day and night just to master their steps. There is so much commitment and dedication, not to mention sacrifice, just to give the best, yet all has come to naught due to the negligence of the organizing committee."
How many hundreds of hours do our students spend to practice for this military parade? How many hundreds of thousands of pesos does each school spend to join the parade? How much does every family spend for his/her child in order to participate in the parade?
Consider those who are still coming from Masbate and Catanduanes. The officers may find it worthwhile to spend. But how about cadets who are there simply to march? The Commandants may earn from it, but how about the parents? How true is it that the Association of CMT Commandants accredits tailoring shops that will provide the uniforms? Why is there a need to accredit tailoring shops? Who gains from such an arrangement?
Should we condone the reality that poor parents borrow money for uniforms, meals and pocket money of their sons and daughters for such an exercise in futility?
A Big Show at the Expense of the Participants
Some argue that the purpose of the Military parade is to add color to the celebration - a spectacle. However, we know that in theaters, people pay to watch and be entertained. Performers work hard to earn a living.
In this case, the crowd are being entertained, but at the expense of the performers. These young people are both subjected to the scorching heat of the sun and the draining of their pockets. But what do they get in return? The city and its organizers have everything to gain. But what do our students take from their performance?
This is not a fair practice at all.
Lastly, there is no Harmony with the Devotion
Every religious celebration is meant to nourish us spiritually. The Peñafrancia Fiesta is meant to remind us to imitate Mary for her undivided attention in serving God, the object of our devotion. Unfortunately, the military parade does not carry this religious message.
Marching, wooden guns, Western uniforms, accreditation of tailoring shops, competition, trophies - all these symbols and activities have nothing to do with Marian devotion.