SHOWBIZ-30th SEA GAMES: MANILA- ‘Gaguhan’: SEA Games’ ‘P55-million kaldero’ draws flak from celebs

The controversial SEA Games cauldron estimated to cost around P55 million. Image: courtesy of the BCDA

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The upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games’ controversial stadium cauldron, estimated to cost around P55 million, has drawn the ire of celebrities for “shameless overpricing.”

Actress Agot Isidro, a staunch critic of the administration, said this was a “million and more reasons for everyone to not pay our taxes,” as posted on her Twitter yesterday, Nov. 18.

“Sa gaguhan na ganito napupunta ang buwis natin,” she said. “Game ka pa ba, Pilipinas?”

(This bullshit is where our taxes are spent. Are you still game, Philippines?”

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon yesterday pointed out the “extravagant” cost for the design and construction of the 50-meter tall cauldron, during the deliberations on the budget of the Philippine Sports Commission.

Singer Leah Navarro had some strong words against the government, which she said has “never been known for its honesty or propriety,” as posted on her Twitter yesterday.

“Good grief. P50M for an unimpressive, ugly, one-time use butane lighter?!” she asked. “Damn, the shameless overpricing by this gov’t. Well, it’s never been known for it’s honesty or propriety.”

SEA Games 2005 karate gold medalist Gretchen Malalad said that the budget for the cauldron should have rather been used to feed and train the country’s athletes instead, through a Twitter post she made yesterday.

“The athletes don’t need a 50M cauldron. Come on! yang kaldero na yan dapat nilagay sa budget ng kalderong pangkain!” she said. “Idagdag niyo na lng sana sa food budget ng atleta. O di kaya para sa training. #supportourathletes.”

(That cauldron’s budget ought to have been used for “cauldrons” for food! You should have allocated the money for the athletes’ food budget. Or for their training.)

In a separate tweet, Malalad added that athletes are often deprived of proper financial assistance from the government, but is able to pay for the extremely expensive cauldron.

“‘Walang budget! Walang budget! Hindi na approve.’ Yan lagi naririnig ng mga atleta kapag nag request ng funds for training and exposure abroad,” she said. “Pero may budget ang gobyerno para sa 50M na kaldero.”

(“There is no budget! There is no budget! It was not approved.” That is what athletes often hear when they request funds for training and exposure abroad. But for a P50-million cauldron, the government suddenly has funds.)

Former APO Hiking Society member Jim Paredes meanwhile gave a simple “what??” through Twitter yesterday, referring to a tweet by one @DanSantos8 which stated the amount spent for the cauldron.

The P55-million stadium cauldron was designed by the late architect and national artist Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa. The country is hosting the SEA games from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 in New Clark City, Pampanga and other venues. JB

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