DAVAO CITY — The Cebu Technological University apologized over the controversial “Singkil” performance during the Launching Parade for the Sinulog 2024 on Friday, January 12, said show sparked anger among netizens, citing cultural insensitivity.
This morning the CTU issued the following statement:
“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”
