Rains delay Sinulog Parade: Home bets triumph

CEBU, Philippines — Contingents from Carcar City and Daanbantayan town in northern Cebu dominated the Sinulog-based and Free Interpretation categories, respectively, of the Sinulog Grand Parade in Cebu City yesterday.

Carcar finally marked its maiden first-place finish after 10 years of joining, thanks to a performance that saw the Santo Niño protecting a singing contest champion from the sorcery of the losing contestant.

Its last win was second place in 2008.

“I’ve seen the growth of Carcar City. Cathy (Estenzo, the choreographer) is very consistent thinker. It’s a very good concept, very Filipino,” said Larry Gabao, vice head of the National Committee on Dance of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, who chaired the board of judges for the Sinulog-based category.

Carcar also swept awards for Best in Costume and Best in Musicality. All in all, its winnings were pegged at P1.2 million.

"Nindot ilaha presentation, asta ang costume nga ala Mara Clara ang dating,” said Gabao.

The presentation started with one singer felt envious of other person’s success, prompting the former to curse the person. But Señor Sto. Niño warded off the evil.

Clad in blue, yellow, and red costume, the 100 dancers executed the dance routines well, according to Gabao.

Aside from their devotion to the Holy Child, Gerad Campanilla, the contingent’s dance master, attributed their success to their two-month practice claiming that difficult steps in the dance challenged the dancers. They started practicing on November 29 last year.

“The members of the team are very cooperative and they get the instructions easily,” he said.

Carcar’s award-winning performance cost them more than P1 million.

Meanwhile, Tribu Kandaya of Daanbantayan reclaimed the title after 15 years as the town last won the top prize in 2003, followed by a fifth place victory in 2004, and fourth place in 2011.

Judge Nestor Jardin branded Daanbantayan’s act as a “cohesive performance,” with choreography and production elements like props and music boding well to the overall impact of the dance.

This year, they showcased the 100 different faces of the Holy Child as a way of expressing their devotion to Señor Sto. Niño.

Daanbantayan contingent, also declared Best in Costume and fourth place in street dancing, pocketed P1.4 million in winnings.

The contingent had 98 dancers, 270 props men, and 47 instrumentalists. The dance production cost the town P3 million.

For street dancing category, Tribu Buyoganon of Abuyog, Leyte got the first prize. Their presentation, showcasing the dancing bees, centered on the climate change-focused message.

The tribe of bees practiced their dance routine for two and a half months.

Other winners

Other winners in the Sinulog-based ritual showdown were Banay Labangon of Barangay Labangon, Cebu City (2nd); Talisay City Central School of Talisay City, Cebu (3rd); Municipality of Tuburan (4th); and  Kulturang Panglaoanon of Panglao, Bohol (5th).

Awarded Best in Musicality were Talisay City Central School (2nd); Municipality of Tuburan (3rd); Kulturang Panglaoanon (4th); and Apas BMO of Barangay Apas, Cebu City (5th).

In the Free Interpretation ritual showdown, Tribu Buyuganon of Abuyog Leyte finished second place; Tribu Katbalaugan of Catbalogan City, Samar (3rd); Lumad Basakanon of Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City (4th); and Tribu Kalivungan of North Cotabato (5th).

Tribu Buyuganon was adjudged Best in Musicality in its category, followed by Lumad Basakanon (2nd); Pundok sa Maampoong Tisaanon of Barangay Tisa, Cebu City (3rd); Tribu Katbalaugan (4th); and  Tribu Kalivungan (5th).

Tribu Buyuganon, a crowd favorite in the streets, also ruled the street dancing competition, with

Tribu Katbalaugan settling for the second place; Municipality of Tuburan (3rd); and Banay Labangon (5th).

First prize winners for both categories won P1 million each; second, P700,000; third, P500,000; fourth, P300,000; and fifth, P200,000.

Winners of the street dancing category is set to receive P1 million while the second to fifth placers will get P700,000; P500,000; P300,000; and P200,000, respectively.

This means that of the nearly P10 million in prizes, Tribu Buyuganon is the biggest winner, taking home a total of P1.8 million.

Delay

Organizers this year have planned to begin the proceedings early but heavy rains forced them to delay the parade yesterday.

Initially, the parade was scheduled to start after a Mass at 9 a.m. But because of the heavy rain which caused technical glitches, Mayor Tomas Osmeña declared the start of the parade at 11 a.m. already.

The grand finale finished at exactly 8 p.m., which means three hours delay of the original schedule.

Sinulog Foundation Inc. Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros attributed the extended time to more contingents participating this year, which numbered 30 compared to last year’s 23.

“Despite the delay and glitches, it’s very successful,” Ballesteros told reporters.

Of the 30 contingents, 12 vied in the Sinulog-based category and 18 in the Free Interpretation category.

Under the rules of the Sinulog Foundation Inc., contingents under Sinulog-based should center their theme on preservation and transformation using historical research, legend, folkdances, and folklores, among others, that are related to the origin of the worship to the Holy Child.

On the other hand, Free Interpretation should use dance steps and movements of an indigenous Philippine or foreign group using the Sinulog beat, without having to portray religious significance.

Last year’s winners, Lanao del Norte and Tangub City’s Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe, skipped this year’s contest, although the crowd at the Cebu City Sports Center was still treated to Sinanduloy’s guest performance.

Grand finale

After being absent last year, spectacular fireworks lasting five minutes once again sealed the 38th Sinulog Grand Parade yesterday.

The grand finale was themed “Kita sa Sugbo” to depict Cebu’s “then and now.” It also showcased the future of Cebu with several upcoming projects such as the Cebu-Bus Rapid Transit, Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, and the Call Center City.

The finale’s choreographer, Victor Cuenco, said the presentation was one way of reminding Cebuanos how Cebu City has evolved through the years.

Some 260 performers danced in the finale to express the city’s thanksgiving to Señor Santo Niño for making the city progressive.

The SFI spent P2 million for the production of the finale. Jean Marvette A. Demecillo, Odessa O. Leyson, Mylen P. Manto (BANAT NEWS)