Tribu Kandaya mulls joining Aliwan Festival

CEBU, Philippines — After winning the Sinulog 2018 Free Interpretation category, the choreographers and the local government of Daanbantayan, Cebu are eyeing at bringing its Tribu Kandaya to the Aliwan Festival.

It is an event in Pasay City where contingents representing different festivals across the country compete.

Tribu Kandaya choreographer Barry Luche said that the team will still talk if they will push through since they are targeting to join this April.

At present, it has not been decided if Tribu Kandaya will represent Cebu City's Sinulog or Daanbantayan's Haladaya Festival if they will pursue.

Mayor Vicente Loot added that it will be great if they can compete at the national level but increasing the budget will be a great challenge.

The local government of Daanbantayan raised at least P2.5 million to join this year's competition, Loot said.

Initially, the local government allocated only P1 million but then it was increased. The Cebu provincial government also extended an aid of P250,000 after the municipal council wrote a request to the governor.

"We offer ourselves to Sto. Niño. We were not there to compete but we were there to present and offer it to the Senyor Sto. Niño," he said.

Tribu Kandaya claimed their awards yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center.

"Mapasalamaton mi nga despite sa mga panghitabo nga kalamidad (referring to Yolanda in 2013) sa lungsod, we were able to stand up and were able to survive," said Loot.

Board Member Sun Shimura said that it was the well-executed choreography and routines of the Daanbantayan contingent that sealed their victory this year, even if their props were minimal compared to the other Sinulog contingents.

He added he hopes that bringing the pride of their town and showing it to the rest of the country in Luzon since it will be a first for their hometown.

Meanwhile, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said that he is proud since the participants under the jurisdiction of the Cebu Province have emerged as winners in the recently concluded Sinulog Festival.

Aside from Daanbantayan's Tribu Kandaya, the contingents from Carcar City, Talisay City, and Tuburan also triumphed.

Davide added that the provincial government is yet to decide if they will be giving financial assistance to Tribu Kandaya if they will compete in Luzon. (FREEMAN)