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Tuesday, January 21, 2003
Cogon kids ‘real winners’
By Charmaine Y. Rodriguez
FOR the children of Tribu Cogon of Pardo Elementary School, being second best may not be so bad after all.
No less than Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña considered them the “real winners” in last Sunday’s grand parade.
“This is what captures the spirit of Sinulog,” he said of the contingent immediately after they gave a spectacular performance that entertained thousands at the Cebu City Sports Center yesterday.
“They have the heart,” he said, adding that Tribu Cogon’s victory was proof that budget constraints did not hurt the group’s chances of winning.
“The children’s level of confidence is nothing short of outstanding,” Osmeña also said in a press conference yesterday.
Even choreographer Gil Ramirez admitted that he was “amazed” at the performance of his 96 pupils during the competition, where they won P150,000.
“Boraki (Just do your best),” was the last advice he gave the dancers, aged nine to 12 years old, before they went up the stage and performed as the 28th among the 29 contingents in the free interpretation category.
Dressed as Aetas, the group presented the story of “Kusgan and Maanyag” and the tribe’s devotion to the Sto. Niño in a choreography that included humor and steps of the hit song “Asereje.”
After he saw the crowd’s appreciation, Ramirez felt that they would make it as one of the five finalists.
With minimal props and costumes, the mayor said it was “almost impossible” for the group to win.
“Kung boxing pa, all their opponents were heavyweights,” he added.
Ramirez agreed. At first he thought they did not have any chance since the other contingents had “sophisticated” props.
They only used bamboo and pieces of wood shaped like guitars as props and had body stockings, G-strings and a wig made of yarn as costumes.
However, even Parañaque City Mayor Joey Marquez, who headed the visiting contingent that won last year’s grand prize in the said category, appreciated Tribu Cogon’s presentation.
“Ito magaling ‘to,” he told reporters during the contingent’s repeat performance in yesterday’s awarding ceremonies at the Cebu City Sports Center. (They are good.)
(January 21, 2003 issue)
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