IT WAS a sweet comeback for the University of the Cordilleras and Saint Louis University as their contingents won the street dancing competition in the Baguio Flower Festival over the weekend.
In the open category, Saint Louis University (SLU) Laboratory High School took home the 1st place award, which came with a P300,000 prize.
SLU unseated defending champion Tinungbo performers from Pugo Catholic School in La Union, which ranked second and went home with P250,000.
Umingan, Pangasinan’s Tribu Rambak came in third and won a P200,000 cash prize.
SLU depicted the traditional "Panagyaman,” based on a celebration of a successful harvest giving thanks for bountiful blessings as well as a tribute to the patience and hard work of farmers.
In the high school division, the University of the Cordilleras Senior High School bagged the top spot and took home P250,000 followed by Baguio City High, which received P200,000 cash prize; and Pines City National settling for third place with P150,000.
The UC contingent presented "Kalajo,” denoting a thanksgiving in the highlands which also marked their comeback after eight years of absence in the competition.
In the elementary school division, Baguio Central School won over Apolinario Mabini Elementary School and took home P250,000 top prize while the Apolinario Mabini school settled for P200,000 cash prize and Manuel Quezon Elementary School placed third with P150,000.
The school featured the classic Bendian dance in a showcase of culture, nature and elements of the region.
Frank De Guzman, school coordinator, explained that flowers played center stage as their performance sought to feature the legend of the blooming and Goddess of flowers of the Cordillera.
Mabini failed to achieve a grand slam for a spot in the coveted Hall of Fame with their performance "Pigsa ken Kadamya," likewise a tribute to the Cordilleran culture.