Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Sinanduloy pledges to do better next year
TRIBU Sinanduloy of Tangub City, Misamis Occidental pledged to bounce back in 2009 after only taking second honors instead of a fourth straight crown in the grand parade’s Sinulog-based (SB) category this year.
First-time participants who were in the top five in both the SB and free interpretation (FI) divisions also promised to return and come up with far superior performances by practicing early.
Jojin Pascual, Tangub’s choreographer for the past seven years, said the dancers were demoralized when they saw the glitch at the start of their presentation.
Sindanduloy entered with its dancers “riding” jeepneys.
But a boy, who was supposed to be a Sto. Niño, stumbled and left behind his red cape as another dancer pulled him to catch up with the jeepney.
The dancer who came to help also left the boy at the center of the stage. For a few seconds, the boy looked like he was at a loss before running towards the backdrop.
Sacred
“The cape was supposed to be sacred, yet it was left behind during the whole presentation hanggang mag-exit. They could have picked it up and used it to add a dimension to their presentation,” said Dr. Larry Gabao, SB panel of judges chairman.
And, he added, he also noticed the absence of emotion that they saw in past Sinanduloy contingents because the dancers were more focused on synchronizing their movements. Their performance became almost mechanical, he said.
Pascual said the incident was their downfall because it distracted the dancers, some of whom were also snagged by a sound box.
Lack of emotion
He said the child was supposed to convey a Sto. Niño returning “home” to the Basilica, which served as their three-dimensional backdrop.
That explained why the judges saw the lack of emotion in their presentation, Pascual said.
Several dancers, he said, even cried while exiting the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC), because of the snafu.
Refusing to watch the contingent perform, else his nerves would get the better of him, Pascual only learned of the incident while they were on their way back to the streets.
But, he said, they were still able to defend their street dancing crown, which they got for the third straight year.
Sinanduloy’s emphasis on simultaneous execution and well-formed lines earned it the best in street dancing award, said Prof. Lordinio Vergara, Philippine Normal University center for cultural arts head and street dancing panel of judges chairman.
He said Sinanduloy did not only dance but also managed to maximize the available space.
The same level of performance is what Carmen town also wants to come up with.
Vice Mayor Sonia Pua said they will wrest the FI category crown from Lumad Basakanon (Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City), which earned it for the second straight year.
Sta. Catalina, Oriental Negros Mayor Ruben Melodia also said they want to do better than their third place finish in the SB category by practicing early instead of just 15 days.
Outstanding
“But we are very proud and happy. We were not expecting to win, but we got a prize,” he said of their contingent, which represented their Pakol Festival.
For her part, Hilongos, Leyte Vice Mayor Altagracia Villaflor acknowledged that they competed against outstanding contingents, especially those from Cebu.
“(But) we are willing to go back, ug mas nindot pa (with a much better performance),” she said of their Alikaraw Organization.
Hilongos won third place last year in Manila’s Aliwan, where champions of different festivals from all over the country clash. Basakanon ruled it the past two years.
Silaw Culture and Arts (Carcar City) assistance choreographer Jerry Alforque likewise said that they will do better than just fifth place by practicing more and hopefully by getting more logistical support.
Repeat performance
Yesterday Sinanduloy, Basakanon, Carmen, Pakol Festival, Alikaraw, Silaw repeated their winning performances during the awarding ceremony along with Tribu Iliganon, Iligan City (fourth, FI); and Tribu Pintaflores, San Carlos City (fifth, FI); Alcoy Siloy Festival (first, SB); and Barangay Lahug (fourth, SB).
Like the grand parade, people still overflowed at the CCSC to watch the contingents.
Aside from trophies, first place winners (both SB and FI) received P500,000 each; second placers, P400,000; third, P300,000; fourth, P200,000; fifth, P100,000.
Choreographers of winning contingents got P30,000 (first); P20,000 (second); P15,000 (third); P10,000, fourth; and P5,000 (fifth).
The best in street dancing got P500,000 (first); P300,000 (second); and P100,000 (third). (RHM)
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