PANAGBENGA dancers scored a win at the Aliwan Fiesta awards.
Baguio City, represented by Baguio City National High School Special Program for the Arts (BCNHS–SPA) dancers, was named runner-up winner in the Street Dance Competition over the weekend.
“We are happy on our achievement lalo na on the choreography and movement marami naman taung natalo doon,” said Francis Lumiwes, BCNHS–SPA coordinator.
The three-day celebration of the Aliwan Fiesta, which culminated at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City, brought together the best festivals all over the Philippines.
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. The event also gathered top performers from all over the country for an exhibition and awards organized by the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) and it is known as the “Mother of All Festivals.”
Lumiwes said the competition has taught them many things; among them is the importance of props.
“Sa nakita namin is labanan talaga ng mga props ito. So if the city can afford to spend for the props, baka pwede taung makakuha ng puwesto sa winnings,” added Lumiwes.
The BCNHS–SPA dance group took the top spot during the Baguio Flower Festival street dancing parade in February for the high school division, with its dance depicting the rise of the city and dubbed as “Wonders of Baguio.”
The group showcased destinations that defined the city as a top tourist drawer after the July 16, 1990 earthquake.
Included in the BCNHS–SPA performance were “Tam-awan Village, the house of rich cultural heritage where 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 and with props made from recycled cartons, newspapers, bamboo sticks, feathers, fur, tiger grass and intricate hand painted props crafted by students and teachers.
The grand champion for the Aliwan Street Dance Competition was from the Pasaka Festival of Tanauan, Leyte, represented by the Kasadyaan Festival; followed by Buraburon Festival of Burauen, Leyte represented by Tribu Buraburon; the Manggahan Festival of the province of Guimaras represented by Hubon Guimarasnon; the Meguyaya Festival of Upi, Maguindanao represented by Sabaken National High School; and Niyogyugan Festival of Quezon represented by Pagbilao Street Dancers.
The special award “Pride of Place” went to the Pinukpuk Festival, represented by the Kalinga by Saints Theresita's High School.