THIS year’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan had new victors.

Cebu City Central School and Don Vicente Rama Memorial National High School bagged the top prizes in the elementary and secondary division, respectively, with their environment-themed productions.

Both contingents have the same choreographer, Rolly Layola.

The two group’s performances were well-applauded by the spectators who filled the grandstand of the Cebu City Sports Center yesterday.

City Central’s Pundok sa Kalanggaman bested three other contingents in the elementary level with their dancers clad as blue birds.

Don Vicente defeated five other contingents in the secondary level, including Apas National High School, last year’s champion, with their butterfly-themed production.

Forest

City Central’s presentation started in a forest with a mother blue macaw (parrot) waiting for an egg to hatch. When her baby bird was born, it was attacked by a predator, a black bird.

The adult macaw tried to fight the predator and was hurt. The image of Sto. Niño arrived and healed her.

The concept for the Don Vicente contingent was almost the same as that of of City Central’s only that their dancers were clad in caterpillars that later transformed into colorful butterflies.

Production

Josephina Guillen, chairperson of the board of judges for the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan, said City Central earned their nod because of their entire performance and production design.

“All the aspects of being a winner are with them. Generally, it’s very difficult to think and show something new, something different, something that has not been seen before or has been seen before but with a new twist to it. Yung ibang grupo nahirapan sa development of their theme from the start to the end but not this group. Their message is very clear,” she said.

Guillen, who is the chairperson of the National Dance Committee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, also said the same for the Don Vicente contingent.

Crocodiles, bees

She said there have been many contingents in the annual Sinulog that used animals in their production, such as bees, crocodiles and gecko’s. But Don Vicente’s performance clearly showed the animal’s relation to the the Sto. Niño.

“Yun kasing iba, ang pagpasok ng Sto. Niño parang pilit. Dito, nakita namin na hindi,” she said.

Another judge, Eli Manlangit, said the winning contingents utilized animals but with a fresh approach.

Guillen said Don Vicente did not use elaborate props, which showed the group’s confidence in their dance.

Guillen said the environment is an issue that is very timely.

Important

In the city, she said, people no longer see butterflies because of the many developments. Yesterday’s presentation showed that these animals are still important, she said.

For winning first place in the ritual showdown, City Central and Don Vicente earned P350,000 each.

City Central was also awarded the top prize in the street dancing category (P50,000), best in costume (P50,000), and best in musicality (P50,000) in the elementary level. Don Vicente won best in costume in the secondary level.

Other winners in the elementary level for the ritual showdown are Talamban Elementary School (2nd, P200,000), Pasil Elementary School (3rd, P150,000) and San Nicolas Elementary School (4th, P125,000).

Other winners for the street dancing category are Talamban (2nd, P30,000) followed by Pasil (3rd, P20,000); while the other winners for the best in musicality area Talamban (2nd, P30,000), Pasil (3rd, P20,000) and San Nicolas (4th, P15,000).

In the secondary level, the other winners for the ritual showdown are Apas (2nd, P200,000), Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. Memorial National High School (3rd, P150,000), Bulacao Community School (4th, P125,000), and Mabolo National High School (5th, P100,000).

For the street dancing category, the winners are Bulacao (1st, P50,000) followed by Don Sergio (2nd, P30,000), and Ramon Duterte Memorial National High School (3rd, P20,000).

The best in musicality winners are Apas (1st, P50,000), Don Sergio (2nd, P30,000), Bulacao (3rd, P20,000), Don Vicente (4th, P15,000) and Ramon Duterte (5th, P10,000).

All the winners get a spot in the Sinulog grand parade on Jan. 17.