Monday, January 21, 2008 Basak, Alcoy dancers win top prizes By Rene H. Martel Sun.Star Staff Reporter
MANY contingents mimicked their dance steps and costumes, to the minutest detail, but the Lumad Basakanon of Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City outperformed them with its flawless execution.
With only a slight change in costume and movements from last year’s number, it won its second straight crown in the Sinulog grand parade’s free interpretation (FI) category and the top purse of P500,000.
Another grand prize winner from last year, Tribu Sinanduloy of Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, failed to get a fourth straight first place in the Sinulog-based (SB) category. It placed second, however.
Last year’s third-placer, Alcoy Siloy Festival, edged it out with a “well-conceptualized” and “very clear message” of protecting the environment. Alcoy, too, gets P500,000.
Choreographer Victor Cuenco credited the feat to their concept, “drama” and overall visuals and colors, which board of judges chairman Dr. Larry Gabao mentioned in explaining their choice.
Alcoy’s presentation showed as backdrop a thick forest that was the home of young Siloys (Black Shama, which are endemic to the town) portrayed by children in black, feathered outfits.
Second chances
The story started with an adventurous boy taking one of two eggs from a nest and getting pursued by a Siloy. The boy fell unconscious from a pole, while the bird retrieved the egg.
Through the intercession of the Sto. Niño, the boy was healed.
In telling this story of protecting nature and getting second chances, Alcoy was “visually satisfying, said Gabao, Philippine Normal University (PNU) president for cultural affairs. “The movements were clearly presented” that the judges were unanimous in their decision.
In the FI category, Basakanon told the story of a boy who, through the Sto. Niño’s intercession, was healed after being injured while harvesting bananas.
Basakanon’s props include banana trees heavy with fruit, bunches of harvested bananas of the “kardaba” kind common in Cebu dangling from horizontal poles, baskets with bananas, and a carabao-drawn cart.
Its dancers were garbed in bronze costumes with copper and yellow lining, complimented with adornments and headdresses made from native materials, and quivers on their backs.
Very solid
Marching onto the stage, the dancers, whether swaying their arms or merely flicking their fingers, did it with such precision and timing that the judges couldn’t help but notice.
Free interpretation panel of judges chairman Nestor Jardin said “the whole production was synchronized, not only in the movement and choreography but also in costume design, presentation and concept.”
“All these created a production piece that was very solid,” he said.
The Sinulog was also quite a party for new contingents.
Among the first-time participants in the winners’ list were the Municipality of Carmen, Alikaraw Organization (Hilongos, Leyte), Tribu Iliganon (Iligan City), Pakol Festival (Sta. Catalina, Oriental Negros, and Silaw Culture and Arts (Carcar Central National High School).
Carmen and Pakol Festival also took the best in costume award in their categories, while Alikaraw got the best in musicality award, which comes with a P50,00 cash prize.
Because it rained after the lunch break, Sinulog Foundation Inc. executive director Ricky had nine contingents perform on the Cebu City Sport Center (CCSC) rubberized track to prevent accidents onstage.
Encore
In an interview, Ballesteros said that with 137 participants, including 51 dancing contingents, they also had to extend the route to the One Citilink Terminal area along N. Bacalso Ave.
While the sun later shone, the showers resumed early in the evening so that the last four contingents, including Sinulog-based category defending champion Tribu Sinanduloy, were forced to dance on the wet stage.
The grand parade started with Cebu City employees’ contingent showing Carbon Public Market vendors paying homage to the Sto. Niño after the end of a fruitful day.
The Cebu Provincial Government followed with a production led by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia as image-bearer of the Palawod dance troupe members of Bantayan town.
Both the City and Province contingents were guest performers.
After the grand finale, a 15-minute fireworks display that cost P300,000 followed, with rain still falling on everyone.
The winners will present encore performances in today’s awarding ceremony, still at the Cebu City Sports Center.
