TRUTH be told, Zumba is not an overnight craze. For quite some time, you have seen your tita (or even your uncle) parading in her bright yellow if not neon fitted shirt while in makeup. To match, she wears an eye catching bandana if not an equally bright tennis shoes.
However, far from its initial reputation of being a mass exercise for our titas, Zumba fitness has dramatically enticed people from all walks of life, young and old, males and females to groove in a different kind of fashion.
With this, Zumba has started a revolution of fitness enthusiasts who have showed that support band community are great deals in any fitness journey.
Today, almost all plazas in Negros have witnessed fitness transformations. The Panaad Park in Barangay Mansilingan, for one, has enlisted more and more Zumba activities all week long.
With this, Zoombacolod was launched by the office of Councilor Ricardo "Cano" Tan to gather many active fit groups in Negros and pit them into a fitness battle.
The event was launched at the Bacolod plaza last Saturday with celebrity judges gracing the event to champion fairness in the sheets. This included Zumba Masters Francis Cire Isidro, Baby Jane Enad and celebrity dancer Mark Anthony “Kramer” Pastrana who rose to fame through various television programs and concerts as a dance group member.
There were 11 Zumba teams for the first qualifying round. Among the qualifiers are The Blue Crabs of E.B. Magalona, first place; Asenso Silay Zumba Fitness of Silay City, second place; Sum-ag Fitness Club of Barangay Sum-ag, third place; Z'fam of Barangay Handumanan, fourth place; Isabela Aero Movers, fifth place; Zumba Aero Fist Group Mina of Sipalay, sixth place.
Tan expressed his fitness advocacies and highlighted how sports paved the way for his education. He also shared that the program is produced through the efforts of various private partners.
Zoombacolod second elimination is scheduled on November 18 at the Bacolod Bays center and we will see another fitness action on December 2 at the UNO-R amphitheater for the Grand Finals.
Top three placers will take home P50,000, P30,000 and P20,000 apart from trophies and certificates from partners. Qualifiers also received cash prizes.
The fitness program was created by Colombian dancer and choreographer Alberto Perez way back in the 90's. It involves aerobic movements that are usually performed in the tune of upbeat and highly energetic playlist. Technically, it is not your usual dance routine. It incorporates various dance genres like samba and salsa with squats and lunges in between.