(FILE PHOTO)
TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Samar has issued a statement clarifying a viral video showing Governor Sharee Ann Tan dancing the kuratsa while tossing money into the air during the Catbalogan City Fiesta, a scene that sparked mixed reactions on social media.
In its August 25 statement, the Governor’s Office explained that the video was taken on August 23 during Hermano Night at the Catbalogan Convention Center, an event hosted by Hermano Mayor Ruben Panaligan as part of the annual feast of St. Bartholomew.
Officials stressed that the gathering was not a lavish dinner nor connected to any government program, but a long-standing cultural tradition in Samar and Leyte.
The kuratsa, a popular courtship dance in Eastern Visayas, typically includes the “gala” or money shower ritual, which symbolizes generosity and communal support.
“It is in no way a display of luxury or wealth, but a practice deeply embedded in our way of celebrating faith and togetherness,” the statement read.
The governor’s office added that Tan participated as an invited guest, noting that many attendees also contributed money during the dance.
All proceeds from the gala were donated to local religious institutions, including the St. Bartholomew Parish Church, the Diocesan Marian Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Ubanon, and two chapels in Catbalogan City.
The viral clip, however, stirred online debate, with some netizens questioning the appropriateness of such displays by public officials amid persistent poverty and governance concerns.
The provincial government acknowledged these sentiments and said it respects calls for public officials to exercise sensitivity, but emphasized that Governor Tan’s participation was meant to honor cultural heritage and support charitable causes, not to flaunt wealth or power.
“Governor Tan joins these cultural traditions not to display wealth or power, but to celebrate Samarnon identity and support the causes they represent,” the statement added, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to transparency and improved public service delivery.
Officials urged the public to appreciate the practice within its cultural and charitable context, rather than interpret it as extravagance.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
