Cebu’s Basakanon wins 2nd place in Aliwan, but still crowd favorite

CEBU City’s representatives to this year’s Aliwan Festival did not manage to bring home the crown.

But for Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) officials, it was the best performance of the group since they started joining the national festival competition.

Tribu Lumad Basakanon of Barangay San Nicolas was declared second placer of the Aliwan’s street dancing competition, which was held in Pasay City last Saturday.

The group holds a Hall of Fame title from Aliwan for bagging three consecutive wins, but decided to join again last year after few years of not joining the festivity.

“We have been dislodged from the throne and it’s a lesson learned and a challenge to Basakanon,” Mayor Michael Rama said.

Rama, who witnessed the performances to support the Basakanon, said the crowd was stunned and overwhelmed with the flawless

performance that the group showed.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella was also with Rama during the competition.

Favotire

For SFI executive director, Ricky Ballesteros, Basakanon was still the crowd’s favorite, but the competitor showed new and fresh dance concepts.

“We are really expecting this since, from the start, that it will be a battle between the two great performers,” he said.

Basakanon lost to Tribu Katbalaugan of Catbalogan City, Samar who was also a Sinulog winner.

Rama said he was happy with Catbalogan’s win because they gave credit to Sinulog, which opened new opportunities for them.

Catbalogan first joined Sinulog this year and won fourth place under the free-interpretation category.

Because of it, they were invited by representatives of Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC), the organizer of Aliwan.

“I am happy that our efforts have been acknowledged, it’s heartwarming for us because Cebu City is not self-centered because we

always want others to discover their potentials,” Rama said.

By encouraging Catbalogan to join the Sinulog, Rama said it’s also a way of uplifting the spirit of other places that were hit by calamities.

Aside from winning the second spot, Basakanon also won best in costume and best in musical accompaniment.

Queen

Sinulog Festival Queen represented by Gazinni Christiana Ganados also won second runner-up in the Reyna ng Aliwan search.

For six years, Cebu City’s representative to Reyna ng Aliwan was always crowned as the queen.

“We didn’t win the crown this year, but I’m thankful to Gazinni for doing her best to represent Cebu,” Ballesteros said.

She also won minor awards such as dazzling beauty of the night, best in evening gown and best in festival costume.

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