IT’S going to be a battle of champions, crowd favorites and new hopefuls in the Sinulog grand parade on Jan. 20, 2019.
After a one-year hiatus, multi-year champion Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe of Tangub City is making a comeback.
Tangub has 12 championships in their name since they first started joining the Sinulog grand parade in 1994.
They were back-to-back champions in 2000 and 2001 under the free interpretation category.
The following year, they competed under the Sinulog-based category and has since kept a nearly unbeatable championship streak, besting other contingents in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2017.
Another famed and well-loved contingent is also making a comeback in next year’s grand parade.
Kulturang Placereño of Placer, Masbate is returning to the stage after taking a two-year break.
Placer has five championships under their belt, winning in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 under the Sinulog-based category.
Tangub and Placer, though, have yet to announce in which categories will they be competing in in next year’s ritual showdown.
Regardless, they will have to vie for the crown with either reigning champions Carcar City Division (Sinulog-based) and Tribu Kandaya of Daanbantayan (free interpretation), both of which are established crowd favorites and strong opponents.
Talisay City, another established crowd favorite, will also be joining the competition.
Bogo City and the Municipality of Ginatilan will also take another shot and compete.
The famed Tribu Basakanon of Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City is also joining next year’s ritual showdown. They won fourth place in this year’s free-interpretation category.
Other participating Cebu City Barangays include Suba, Sawang Calero, Guadalupe, Labangon, Sapangdaku, Talamban, Mabolo, Mambaling, Cogon Pardo, Cambinocot, San Nicolas Proper, Bulacao and Inayawan.
Out-of-town contingents from Surigao del Norte, Murcia in Negros Occidential, Misamis and Toledo City will also participate in the grand parade.
Councilor Dave Tumulak, Sinulog executive committee chairman, said that from 27 this year, only 24 contingents will perform during the 2019 grand parade. RTF