Agad na naglabas ng public apology ang Cebu Technological University (CTU) matapos masita ng Bangsamoro Government dahil sa Singkil performance nila sa pagbubukas ng pagdiriwang ng Sinulog Festival kamakailan.

Ang Singkil ay folk dance ng mga Maranao sa Mindanao, at ang Sinulog Festival naman ay pagdiriwang ng mga Kristiyano para kay Señor Sto. Niño o Child Jesus.

Sa opisyal na pahayag na nilagdaan ni Chief Minister Hon. Ahod Ebrahim noong Enero 13, 2024, tinawag nila itong "inappropriate and culturally insensitive."

"The Bangsamoro Government decries as grossly inappropriate and culturally insensitive the “Singkil” performance of the Cebu Technological University during the Opening Salvo of the annual Sinulog Festival in Cebu, aniya.

Probinsya

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Hindi umano nararapat na isama ang Bangsamoro at Muslim cultural arts at symbols sa isang pistang pang-Kristiyano lamang.

Sa kabilang banda, hinihikayat ng Bangsamoro government na magkaroon ng constructive conversations at collaboration ang dalawang panig upang magkaroon ng "cultural exchange" upang hindi na maulit ang mga pangyayari, at mas mabigyan pa ng kalinawan ang mga bagay na pumapatungkol sa cultural appropriation.

"We emphasize the importance of cultural sensitivity, inclusivity, and cooperation in celebrating the diversity that defines our nation. Let us strive for unity through understanding and appreciation of each other’s traditions and heritage," pangwakas na talata sa pahayag.

Narito naman ang buong public apology ng pamantasan:

"To our beloved Muslim Brothers and Sisters,

We, the Cebu Technological University (CTU) community, write to express our deepest and most sincere apologies for any offense or disrespect caused by our Sinulog dance presentation during the Sinulog Festival Launching organized by the Sinulog Foundation Inc.

We understand and deeply regret that elements of our performance may have been perceived as insensitive or disrespectful towards your culture and religion. We assure you that there was absolutely no intention to cause harm or offense, and we are truly sorry if any aspect of our presentation came across as such.

We value and respect the rich cultural and religious diversity of our community, including the significant contribution of the Muslim community to Cebu's vibrant tapestry. Inclusivity and understanding are core values of our university, and we strive to celebrate all cultures with sensitivity and awareness.

We are committed to learning from this experience and taking steps to ensure that such incidents do not occur again. We will be conducting a thorough internal review of our performance practices to identify areas where we can improve our understanding and respect for diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.

We understand that apologies alone cannot fully repair the hurt caused. However, we hope that our sincere remorse, commitment to learning, and proposed actions demonstrate our genuine desire to build bridges and foster understanding between our communities.

Please be assured that we have learned a significant lesson from this incident and will work diligently to ensure that such mistakes are never repeated. We value the diversity that defines our community and will strive to create an environment where all individuals are treated with the utmost respect and dignity.

Once again, we extend our sincerest apologies to the entire Muslim community for the inappropriate use of Traditional Muslim attire during the Sinulog Festival. We are eager to engage in open dialogue and take all necessary steps to ensure a more inclusive and respectful university, and we hope to earn back your trust and collaboration in the future.

With deepest sincerity,

The Cebu Technological University Community."

Pinahahalagahan din ng Bangsamoro government ang naging pagkilos ng Cebu Technological University na maglabas ng public apology kaugnay nito.