Monday, May 05, 2008 Cebu dancers win P1M, festival top prize By Nancy R. Cudis Sun.Star Staff Reporter
FOR the third straight year, Cebu City’s Lumad Basakanon bested the festivals of provinces during the Aliwan Festival in Pasay City last Saturday.
With their flawless execution of movements, Lumad Basaknon outperformed other contingents who had elaborate props and costumes.
The win earned the contingent from Barangay Basak San Nicolas another P1 million and a trophy.
The Aliwan Festival, now on its fifth year, is an inter-regional competition showcasing different major festivals from all over the country.
The recent event showed 24 festivals.
Lumad Basakanon is followed by Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival and Carmen, Cebu’s Sinulog Festival, which placed third.
Apart from the feat, the float of the International Pharmaceuticals Inc. that won first place in the float category in this year’s Sinulog Festival also bagged third place in Aliwan’s float competition.
Ciarra Joyce Buot of Carmen, Cebu placed second runner-up in the Reyna ng Aliwan competition and won best in long gown.
Lumad Basakanon choreographers Norman Navarro and his brother Dennis said they did not expect that the contingent will be included in the top three best festivals as other contingents were “really good.”
Time limit
Learning their lessons from last year’s competition, they set their dance according to the required time limit. They also stayed faithful to the contest criteria.
Judges concentrated on choreography, performance, timing and rhythm.
Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) executive director Ricky Ballesteros said they are “happy and proud” with the victories of Cebu Province and Cebu City in all of Aliwan’s categories.
He noted that Lumad Basakanon only had minimal props compared with the other contingents.
“Their presentation showed fluidity in movement. Ang changes sa movement and dance steps limpyo kayo (They beautifully executed the changes in the dance steps). It is their trademark already. Limpyo sad kaayo ang movements sa Carmen, Cebu contingent (The Carmen, Cebu contingent did great as well),” he told Sun.Star Cebu.
Support
He also observed that the group did not experience financial problems as it enjoyed the support of the Cebu City Government, which took care of its transportation expenses.
Basak San Nicolas Barangay Captain George Rama, with the help of sponsors, also took care of their meals.
The group also received a subsidy from the Aliwan Festival organizing committee.
“We really thought that it will be Lumad Basakanon and Carmen in the top of the list of winners. We also thought that our float that showcased a jungle where a lion is holding an image of the Sto. Niño will win first place. It was the most photographed float. But the criteria requires that the concept should be more on culture,” Ballesteros said.
Cebu City Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa, who accompanied the city’s contingent, said that he was worried when he saw the presentations of the other contingents, such as Iloilo’s Dinagyang and Carmen, Cebu’s Sinulog, since the performances were also good.
“It was very colorful and bongga ilang props and costumes but Lumad Basakanon’s flawless execution made them stand out,” he said.
“I like this one better. It’s the best performance ever because in the way they performed, there was always (an element of) surprise. No one knew what was going to happen next, especially with the shift in the dance steps and formation. (The) movements were well-coordinated and every move had a purpose,” he added.
Hall of Fame
When asked if Lumad Basakanon can still join in next year’s Aliwan as a contestant, Ballesteros said he is not aware of contest rules so he isn’t sure if they will disallow the group from joining after a third straight win.
He doesn’t also know if they will place the group in a hall of fame.
The contingent won first place in the free interpretation category in the Sinulog this year.
Navarro said they will do their best to win in next year’s festival in order to win and again represent the city in the national competition of festivals.
Ballesteros and Dolores “Dolly” Suzara of the Sinulog organizing committee also grabbed the opportunity to invite other participating contingents in the Aliwan to join next year’s festival.
When Sun.Star Cebu called Ballesteros yesterday, he said Lumad Basakanon’s 100 dancers, 42 instrumentalists and 28 propsmen were on their way to Santiago City, Isabela to dance as a guest contingent in the city’s Pattaraday Festival.
Lumad Basakanon is expected to be back in Cebu City on Friday. (NRC)
