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Philippine officials take down 'witches crossing' sign following outrage from residents
Officials of a town in Central Philippines was forced to take down road warning signboards featuring witches amid observations that the traffic signs offend the sensibilities of some local folk
- By Gilbert P. Felongco, Correspondent
- Published: 19:01 July 6, 2011
Manila: Officials of a town in Central Philippines was forced to take down road warning signboards featuring witches amid observations that the traffic signs offend the sensibilities of some local folk.
Various reports reaching Manila said officials in the town of Dumangas in Iloilo province were forced to take down six traffic warning signboards bearing silhouettes of three witches straddling broomsticks amid an uproad from local residents who said that the depiction had been unfair to locals.
Dumangas, just like some parts of Panay island, particularly Capiz, is a supposed haunt of evil mythical creatures that includes witches, aswangs (a shape-shifting vampire-like creature) manananggals (banshees), among others.
The unusual road sign was an idea of Dumangas Municipal Mayor Ronald Golez who intended to deter overspeeding motorist. Instead of a skull and crossbones sign and other similarly grotesque symbolism, the official lighthertedly used three witches. The areas where the signs had been placed were sites where road accidents had taken place.
According to Golez, it was not intention to slight the sensibilities of his constituents by putting up the unusual road signs.
There were also reports that the sign had drawn condemnation in several social networking sites.
Dumangas is located some 20 kilometres from Iloilo City.
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