Friday, October 10, 2008 Serna: Sad about ‘Sadsad’ By Roger Serna Sounds and images
A decade or so ago, when festivals in the southern part of Cebu province (like the Inasal, Bonga, Pitlagong, Siloy, Utanon, Tostado and Hinatdan), were still non-existent, some people in the town of Oslob (most specifically in Barangay Poblacion) were already dancing to the rhythm of the Sadsad Festival jingle, which is a fusion of ethnic and Latin beats.
At that time, the festival was still concentrated in the town proper which celebrates its fiesta in honor of Senior San Roque every August. When the barangay captain was elected town mayor, he elevated his brainchild to the municipal level.
Before that, however, Sadsad Festival, though still a barangay event, stood proud side by side with the festivals of bigger local government units when it was invited to the Ms. Cebu 2000. The beauty tilt was held at the Pacific ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
That early, Sadsad (the dance and its jingle) already earned applauses not only from the audience but also from those directly involved with the pageant, like First Lady Margot Osmeña and top talk show host Boy Abunda.
The pageant director, Junjet Primor, already had a soft spot in his heart for the festival. Some National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) commissioners including Dolly Suzara and provincial officials also articulated their appreciation.
In December, Oslob will celebrate its fiesta with the possibility of not having the 13-year-old festival anymore in favor of a new one held against a backdrop of the charred remains of a once imposing heritage structure of a church (note: a fire razed the church and its convent on Mar. 26).
That is, if the plan of the mayor pushes through. That means back to square one disregarding all the blood, sweat and tears shed for the festival’s development.
It all started with the dismal performance of the Sadsad group in the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo last August. The mayor singled out the jingle as the reason. I disagreed. It should be the choreographer who should take the blame.
Did the mayor really find it hard “to sell Sadsad because it is not about a product, or history or whatever?” Oww? So there are efforts to that effect, huh? Sorry, but I didn’t notice.
Sadsad is about the Oslobanon’s rich spiritual background and for me it’s over and above products and everything.
A festival workshop was held last year establishing the four basic steps and all the other ingredients. It was also emphasized that being of the creative type, Sadsad Festival is more of neo-ethnic and so can be experimental or can use modern touches in its costumes and props.
Why was the group for the Pasigarbo in Filipiniana attire then? That, only the choreographer knows.
This plan of scrapping the festival pains me having been a part of the group that conceptualized it, pushed for its jingle to be composed and nurtured its growth and development.
Yes, it’s true that the festival has been outshone by the new ones lately. I can point one reason: lack of logistical support.
There was even a time when it was held with the former town mayor monitoring its proceedings through a cell phone in the comfort of his room somewhere in the USA.
Now, this. I just hope the plan will not materialize. If not, I can just hope and pray that someone else will revive it when the right time comes.
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Finally, the 16 good-looking hunks (Hans, Donald, Ram, David, Jones, Rhamric, Kurt, Christian, Marvin, JM, Bassanio, Mariano, McBilly, Jazz, Joseph and Gerone) vying for the first ever Mr. Cebu title will go on the runway tonight at the Pacific grand ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino.
With the SOS Children’s Village Cebu as beneficiary and hosted by model-turned-actress-TV-host Angel Aquino, the pageant starts at 7 p.m. Don’t miss the production numbers and other highlights of the show by coming in on time.
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Together with some colleagues two weekends ago, I rubbed elbows with some stakeholders in the tourism industry (including Sec. Joseph Ace Durano and the host of the event himself, Jay Aldeguer).
This was at the official launch of the Islands Banca Cruises held at Punta Engaño. We had a ceremonial trip for a few minutes.
The management and staff were in orange shirt and since I was in orange T also, Ahmed Cuizon kidded me by asking: ‘Are you one of the staff?’
