While Naga City Councilor John Bongat is entirely entitled to his opinion regarding the absence of any "controversy" between the Naga City government and the local church regarding the manner in which the Peñafrancia Fiesta has been and is to be celebrated, we however disagree with his nonchalant dismissal.
Councilor Bongat made known this opinion of his recently during the Naga City mayoralty candidates' forum at Ateneo de Naga University. Now, either Councilor Bongat failed to check his dictionary regarding the meaning of the word "controversy" or he was totally clueless as to what had transpired the past two years. Were this a case of the former, then a brief perusal of a dictionary on his part would yield the following: "a discussion marked esp. by the expression of opposing views: dispute."
However, if it were a case of being clueless on Councilor Bongat's part, then this does not speak well of someone who's supposedly seeking the mayoralty post in the City of Naga. For it begs the question: where were you the last two years that you seem unaware of this publicized dispute between the Church and the Naga City government regarding the commercialization of the Peñafrancia Fiesta?
Where was Councilor Bongat, for instance, when Archbishop Leonardo Legazpi unequivocally criticized the Robredo Administration for "its government-sponsored and government-approved activities that do not only fail to promote but even obstruct a meaningful celebration [of the Fiesta]" in the Archbishop's open letters to the incumbent mayor in 15 August 2008 and 9 September 2008?
Or, where was Councilor Bongat when a group of lay leaders last 12 September 2009 expressed outrage at and objected to the launching of "Viva Naga, Viva Bicolandia" which subsumed the religious celebration of the Peñafrancia Fiesta as part of its grand secular celebration for the whole of September?
What is very troubling about this "opinion" of Councilor Bongat is that it "sweeps under the rug" a crucial issue that has hounded (and still hounds) Mayor Jesse Robredo's Administration, namely the commercialization of the religious feast that is the Peñafrancia Fiesta. Ignoring this issue by declaring that "there really is no controversy" can only lead to the perpetuation of the prostitution of the Fiesta which occurred during Robredo's watch, to which Church (clerics and laity alike) had expressed its opposition. It can only lead to INA being continually sold by the City government as a marketing icon to beer corporations and other corporate sponsors.
If Councilor Bongat was simply toeing the party line with his "no-controversy" statement and is keen in adhering to it should he be elected, then we can expect no change in how the City government would celebrate the Peñafrancia Fiesta. A parasitic "Viva Naga, Viva Bicolandia" or its equivalent would be launched at the beginning of September; beauty pageants and a military parade which are unconnected if not distracting would be held either within or just before the novena week; and of course, the street parties which promote public intoxication and scandalous behavior during a religious feast would be happily staged.
By stating that there is no controversy between the Church and City government about the Peñafrancia Fiesta celebration, Councilor Bongat is effectively saying that the status quo will be observed should he be elected mayor. That status quo has a huge sign in it:
FOR SALE: THE PEÑAFRANCIA FIESTA
For inquiries, contact the Naga City Mayor's office