Uy to Sinulog organizers: Reject gambling sponsorships
Archbishop Uy urged Sinulog organizers to reject gambling sponsorships to protect the religious festival's sanctity.Summary
Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy has appealed to the Sinulog Festival organizers to reject sponsorships from gambling companies, arguing that such partnerships contradict the festival’s core religious meaning and the church’s mission. This appeal follows the Sinulog Foundation Inc.’s (SFI) announcement of a partnership with Bingo Plus, an online gambling platform. Archbishop Uy emphasized that the Sinulog Festival is a devotion to the Santo Niño and should not be treated as merely a cultural or tourism event. He warned that accepting funds from gambling industries risks turning the sacred feast into a “commercial spectacle” and sends a conflicting message to the faithful. SFI defended the partnership, distinguishing BingoPlus from other forms of gambling due to its use in church fundraising activities, but the archbishop countered that gambling is linked to societal issues like addiction and financial ruin. He encouraged seeking sponsors aligned with the festival’s values of faith, family, and community, stressing that preserving the festival’s spiritual significance is paramount.
(Source：SunStar Philippines)