“DON’T copy the choreography of others.”
This was among the advice the judges of this year’s Sinulog grand parade gave to the contingents who want to join next year’s competition.
In a news conference Sunday night, Nestor Jardin, former head of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, said choreographers have to ensure uniqueness and variety in their dance routines.
“I suggest they explore the wealth of local dance movements and choreography pattern because they are limitless. It will ensure variety in their choreography,” he said.
Jardin, chairperson of the board of judges for the free interpretation (FI) category, noticed that some dance routines were similar to each other.
Also, Jardin said the contingents should avoid using foreign concept as a theme.
“They should go back to the rich Philippine tradition, folk tales, legends, and folk beliefs. There is no need to go foreign in their inspiration,” he said.
Luck
This, as some of this year’s winners never expected their luck.
Plaridel, Misamis Occidental Mayor Diego Cacho Ty and his contingent were supposed to leave for home yesterday because they were not expecting to win in last Sunday’s Sinulog Grand Parade.
But they won fourth place in the free interpretation category.
So the trip back home was canceled so the contingent could repeat its performance
yesterday. They won P200,000.
“I’m a devotee of the Señor Sto. Niño and I’m a first-time mayor and this is Plaridel’s first time to join. We really wanted Plaridel to be known worldwide and Sinulog gives us that venue,” said Ty.
He said he also wants to have close ties with the Cebu City Government, possibly a sister-city tie.
Ty is not a stranger to Cebu City, where he used to be a casual employee at the Department of Engineering and Public Works.
Second placer Tribu Himag-Ulaw of Placer Masbate had a props overload. They were popular with the crowd during and after the presentation as people took turns posing with the contingent’s “dwarves.”
Placer, Masbate’s other contingent, Kulturang Placereño, bested other contingents in the SB category. It also won third place in the street dancing category.
Tribu Sinanduloy of Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, won second place in both the street dancing and SB categories.
Dancing was not exclusive to the contingents as Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, flanked by 2014 Miss Cebu Cheriemel Diane Muego and Miss Cebu fourth runner-up Crystal Star Aberasturi, danced to Sinulog songs.
Complete winners of the FI category are: Lumad Basakanon of Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Tribu Himag-Ulaw of Placer Masbate, Abellana National School, Tribu Subanen of Plaridel, Misamis Occidental and Talamban Elementary School.
Talamban was also popular with the crowd as they have among the youngest dancers.
Complete winners of the SB category are: Kulturang Placereño of Placer, Masbate; Tribu Sinanduloy of Tangub City, Tuburan Municipality, Carcar City and Talisay City Central School.
Winners for visual merchandising, from first through third place are: E-mall, Gaisano Capital-South and Gaisano Metro-Colon.
For on-site decoration, winners are: E-mall, Global Business Power Corp. and Glojam Town Apartelle.
Winners for the float Category are: Contempo, Lactobiotics Worldwide and perennial float winner IPI.
For this year’s competition in the FI category, Jardin said there were contingents who made “can-can” a part of their presentation. It is the kind of dance that involves high-kicking and originated from France.
Also, Jardin said there are contingents who used as their concept the Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
“We have local tales on which the choreographers can base their concept,” he said.
Just like in the FI, Josefina Guillen, the chairperson of the board of judges in the Sinulog-based (SB) category, the contingents should highlight local culture in their presentation.
“The local culture is very important in the SB category. They should make a clear effort to research and show what the local culture is, particularly where they came from,” she said.
Guillen, who is the present head of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, said the contingents should also experiment and come up with new ideas.
As for the props, Guillen said the judges prefer that they should only use one set of props but relevant to the theme of their dance.
“They should just maximize it. Hindi pa magastos. But they should study it well,” she said.