BAGUIO City National High School – Special Program for the Arts (BCNHS –SPA) will be representing the city in the Aliwan Festival set in May.
Performers took the top spot during the Baguio Flower Festival street dancing parade for the high school division with their dance depicting the rise of the city dubbed as “Wonders of Baguio,” and their entry to the Aliwan Festival announced during Sunday’s float parade.
The annual Aliwan Fiesta gathers top performers from all over the country for an exhibition and awards organized by the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) and is known as the “Mother of All Festivals.”
The group showcased destinations which defined the city as a top tourist drawer after the July 16, 1990 earthquake described to be “the downfall of the city was challenged to rebuild the city’s greatness. It is through this festival that paved the opportunity to make Baguio great again. Witness as we perform how Baguio regains its wonder.”
Included in the BCNHS – SPA performance were “Tam-awan Village, the house of rich cultural heritage where our indigenous tribes express their unity despite cultural differences; the Lourdes Grotto, a sanctuary of hope and spiritual healing where people of Baguio turn to prayer and adoration a way of rebuilding one’s spiritual identity; the Lion’s Head of Kennon Road, the gateway of City of Pines; Burnham Lake, where swan boats are enjoyed not only by lovers but the whole family where you feel the calmness of tides; Botanical garden, houses the beautiful flowers blooming and greets us and captives us all throughout the year; Mines View, Cathedral, Right Park, Mansion House to name a few creates a wonderful experience of scenery that only Baguio can give as it continues to bloom forward and sustain it’s great wonders.”
The BCNHS –SPA contingent had costumes depicting ethnicity and the cultural identity of the different Cordilleran tribes accented with weave, beadwork, back and head dresses with props made from recycled cartons, newspapers, bamboo sticks, feathers, fur, tiger grass and intricate hand painted props crafted by students and teachers.
The 2019 staging of the BFF is themed “Blooming Forward,” with the street dancing competition winners: Tuba Central School for the elementary division and Saint Louis University (SLU) was declared champion for the open category.
For the elementary division, landing on second place was Mabini Elementary School; third place was Baguio Central School; fourth spot was awarded to Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School; fifth place was Jose P. Laurel Elementary School; sixth place was Lucban Elementary School; and Dontogan Elementary School at seventh spot.
Prizes for the elementary category were at P300,000; P250,000; P200,000; P170,000; P150,000; and consolation prizes at P40,000 with a subsidy.
High school division runners up were University of the Cordilleras High School (second), SLU Senior High School (third), Pinsao National High School-Sakusak Musical Ensemble (fourth), Tanghalan Teatro Pino-Pines City National High School (fifth) and Remnant International College (sixth).
Prizes for the high school category were P250,000; P200,000; P150,000; and a P50,000 consolation prize with a subsidy.
Open category winners also include Manait-Burgos, La Union (second), Pinablin, Calasiao-Puto Festival (third) and Sagpat, Kibungan, Benguet (fourth).
Prizes for the open category was at P300,000; P200,000; P150,000 with a P50,000 consolation prize with a subsidy.
The Aliwan Fiesta harnesses the power of Philippine festivals to showcase how religion, culture, and tradition, categories include, the festival street dance, float design parade, festival queen and tugtog ng aliwan.
Aliwan champions last year were, Kasadyaan Festival Tribu Buraburon of Burauen, Leyte who also bagged the Best in Music. Second Runner up was Manggahan Festival who also the Best in Costume. Tribu Panayanon of Iloilo Dinagyang placed 3rd. Meguyaya Festival were 4th and Binirayan Festival 5th.
This three-day celebration is set for April 26 to 28 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City.