OUT-OF-TOWN contingents from Tangub City, Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte emerged victorious during the grand parade of Sinulog 2017.
The Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe of Tangub City, who earlier said this would be the last time they are competing in the grand parade, won the grand prize of the Sinulog-based.
With their performance, Tangub brought the audience back to the 1970s and showcased how Filipinos have celebrated the fiesta of Sto. Niño through the years.
Aside from winning the grand prize in the ritual showdown, Tangub also won second place in street dancing and second place in the musicality awards in the same category. This is their 12th grand prize title.
Tangub City Mayor Philip Tan promised the Cebuanos and other Sinulog regulars that they will be back next year.
But whether or not they’ll join the grand parade, Tan said they will still have to discuss that.
Rodel Fronda, chairman of the board of judges for the Sinulog-based category, said that Tangub showed clarity in their movements all throughout their performance and executed a sharp concept.
“It was very clean and smooth,” he said.
Fronda said that Tangub emphasized veneration, which he did not see in other performers who did not make it to
the top five and whose performances were “too fast.”
He said that for the top five contingents in the Sinulog-based category, it was a close fight.
Tangub and Lanao both won P1 million for bagging the top spots of the ritual showdown of the Sinulog-based and free interpretation categories.
Talisay City Central Elementary School won the best in costume prize and first place for musicality in the Sinulog-based category.
Other winners in the best in musicality contest, Sinulog-based category were Carcar City Division (third place), Municipality of Dumanjug (fourth place) and Banay Labangon of Barangay Labangon, Cebu City (fifth place).
In the free interpretation category, Lanao del Norte, The Land of Beauty and Bounty, defended their title as champions in the ritual showdown. They also won first place in the musicality awards for the category
The group, in their performance, showed how love conquers all challenges.
Lanao’s dance showed how Muslims and Christians can unite in promoting peace, through the intercession of Sto. Niño.
The group’s performance centered on how leaders of these two religions united during an inter-faith wedding.
Nestor Jardin, chairman of the board of judges in the free interpretation category, said Lanao had a “very well-thought-out” performance.
“They had the concept, the storyline, performance of the dancers, choreography, costume, props and musicality that made them the winner,” Jardin said.
Jardin said he also considered in his evaluation the value of peacemaking that Lanao showed in their performance.
Hugpong Asturiasnon of the Municipality of Asturias won the best in costume award in the free interpretation category.
Other winners in the category’s musicality contest were Lumad Basakanon, Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City (second place), Hugpong Asturiasnon of the Municipality of Asturias (third place), Tribu Katbalaugan, Catbalogan City, Samar (fourth place) and Dumaguete City’s Sandurot Festival (fifth place).
A La Fiesta-inspired grand finale, which showed performances using fireballs and LED lights, capped the celebration.