RAIN did not spare yesterday’s Sinulog grand parade, but it did not stop Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe from capturing its second straight crown in the Sinulog-based (SB) category.
Tribu Himag-ulaw also didn’t let the rain keep it from winning the free interpretation (FI) category, after it failed to do that the first time it joined last year.
Sinanduloy of Tangub City, Misamis Occidental won for the second straight year with innovations in its presentation and clear demonstration that the dancers “venerated” the Sto. Niño.
It had failed to win a fourth straight grand prize in 2008, but is starting another streak with its latest back-to-back wins.
“Tangub maintained the traditional presentation…. The many dancers’ execution of the ritual of veneration is very much present,” said Dr. Larry Gabao, chairman of the five-person board of judges.
He said that though the contingent may have been limited by the Sinulog steps, it was able to present something new.
“In some patterns of the choreography there were changes in the way they presented their concept,” said Gabao, president of the Philippine Folk Dance Society.
After its backdrop of wooden panels showing a bamboo groove parted, Sinanduloy started, its dancers hidden in the middle of a ricefield, with a few acting as scarecrows.
As they prayed for a good harvest, dancers flipped their large illustrations of rice stalks, to show a golden field.
Tangub City Mayor Jennifer Wee Tan said she was nervous because there were other strong contenders in the field of 22 contingents in their category.
“We just left the results up to the Sto. Niño. The children gave it their all,” Tan said.
Tangub’s choreographer Emilio “Jojen” Pascual is among those the Sinulog Foundation Inc. will honor today as one of the multi-awarded choreographers of the competition.
Aside from the grand prize, Tangub also won first place for the fifth straight year in the street dancing competition, for a total prize of P1 million.
For Tribu Himag-ulaw of Placer, Masbate, on the other hand, the sweetest victory came during the second try.
As a first-time participant, Placer went home empty-handed last year, when Abuyog, Leyte lorded over the FI category.
“It was a relief. It was joy. It was ecstasy,” said Mayor Joshur Lanete to describe what he felt when he learned of their win.
Placer’s well-applauded presentation started with stairs in the middle of the stage, a sun with revolving rays above it.
Lanete said their concept was that of a sick child who was offered to the Sto. Niño and was healed.
“The whole village then gave thanks for the Sto. Niño’s miracle,” he said.
Using huge flowers and violet woven trays slung on the backs of dancers, the Placer dancers wowed the crowd with their choreography.
“The choreography was very exciting. It was something new.
What is exciting about them was the way they changed props and choreographic patterns. In a split second they were able to change props and patterns despite the difficulty of the choreography. The precision is highly commendable,” said Cultural Center of the Philippines President Nestor Jardin.
He said the dancers, garbed in a head-to-toe golden costume, “blended well with the overall concept of the dance.”
For winning the grand prize, Placer will get P500,000 cash.
Although he spent at least P1 million for the contingent, Lanete said the dancers were not after the money, but the opportunity to honor the Holy Child.
“Wala mi nag-apas nga makabawi sa gasto. I’m a Sto. Niño devotee because I used to dance the Sinulog when I lived in Sto. Niño Village in Banilad (Cebu City).
Dili na man ko pwede mosayaw, sa laing paagi nako gihatag (I can no longer dance, so I found another way to make my offering). Personal commitment ko ni,” he said.
He credited the win to the brilliance of choreographer Barry Luche and the discipline of the dancers.
Jardin, chairman of the FI category judges, said that while Cebu City’s Lumad Basakanon of Barangay Basak San Nicolas was also good, the judges did not see something new in its choreography.
“A slight variation but basically the same in choreographic style and pattern,” he said.
Rain interrupted yesterday’s performances at the Cebu City Sports Center for at least 30 minutes, while organizers had the stage wiped dry.
With protection of the environment as the centerpiece of this year’s Fiesta Señor, there were a few of the 44 dancing contingents that used climate change as their concept.
Sta. Filomena, Alegria, for example, used the call to fight global warming, with the Sto. Niño by greening the earth.
It was similar to the theme Cambanay Elementary School of Danao City also adopted.
Aside from trophies, first place winners (both SB and FI) will receive P500,000 each; second placers, P400,000; third, P300,000; fourth, P200,000; and fifth, P100,000.
Choreographers of winning contingents will get P30,000 (first); P20,000 (second); P15,000 (third); P10,000, fourth; and P5,000 (fifth).
The best in street dancing will get P500,000 (first); P300,000 (second); and P100,000 (third).
All winners will be formally recognized during the awarding ceremony and repeat performance at the Cebu City Sports Center at 1 p.m. today.