A contingent of Boholano performers who will represent the Philippines in the San Francisco Song and Dance Festival starting on August 12 was denied US visa, the Post learned last night. The report is sketchy at best since no one seemed to confirm the details of the unfortunate event. But Loy Palapos, executive director of the Sandugo Foundation who was supposed to be part of the group confirmed to the Post last night that he is pushing through with the trip. There appeared to have no problem with his visa. He is expected to catch up with the group of Mayor Dan Neri Lim who will be at ringside to cheer the fight of Boholano boxing sensation Rey”Boom Boom” Bautista. At the Arco Arena in In Sacramento California.

It was estimated that about 10 performers who are supposed to form a dance and drama troupe assembled by renowned director/ choreographer Gardy Labad were denied US entry. The group of performers is supposed to stage a Sandugo reenactment as its cultural presentation during the San Francisco affair. The group is an amalgam of dance and drama talents picked from Diwanag Dance Company, Theatro Bol-anon and from the different schools in the city of Tagbilaran. The Loboc Children Choir which is no stranger to international exposure was supposed to join the group of selected Boholano thespians but begged off at the last minute. The choir had just been to China in another invitational presentation.

It was gathered that the Loboc Children's Choir aside from its supposed performance during the San Francisco Festival was enlisted to sing the Philippine National Anthem during the Bautista-Ponce de Leon main eventer. But all this are “water under the bridge” when the children's choir failed to honor the commitments due to conflict of schedule. As to the dance and drama troupe, it was not divulged what was the reason they were denied US visas. Dr. Elpedio Jala, city division superintendent who was part of the entourage was lucky not to be included to those who were denied entry to the US. But he opted to stay behind apparently in sympathy to his companions. But Palapos pushes through with the trip hoping that he can make it to the Bautista-Ponce de Leon bout this morning. He left Manila last night. Also billed as Bohol's ambassador of goodwill, the Bohol performers are also in a promotional tour to hype next year's convention of the Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan in Tagbilaran City.