Jerrold Tarog's 'Rhythm in Unison' wins grand prize in the Sinulog Festival 2007 video docu tilt

Out of 28 who submitted their entries, "Rhythm in Unison" of filmmaker Jerrold Tarog from Cabuyao, Laguna is this year's grand prize winner in the 3rd Annual Sinulog Video Documentary Competition. A very well shot and edited documentary, which also boasts of beautiful musical scoring, it emerged as best among this year's bests.

Franz Arrogante, who is a consistent major prize winner for three consecutive years now, won second prize with his "The Candlemaker and His Humble Devotion," a poignant presentation of a documentary of a Sto. Niño devotee, who together with his family sells candles during the occasion, gets the privilege to stay in the "Devotee City" set up by the Cebu City government, and expresses devotion to the Infant Jesus, despite hardship and difficulties that they have to bear.

Third prize goes to Ruel Antipuesto's "Sinulog Festival Queen," focusing on one of the newest but most watched events of the Sinulog Festival, the search for the most beautiful, best lead dancer and where, as Jojin Pascual, head of the University of San Carlos' History Department and consultant / head artist-choreographer of Tangub City's Tribu Sinanduloy, said "the Niño sits well in the hand."

In 2005, Raymond N. Aquino's Dance of Devotion" won the grand prize, while last year, Ruel Antipuesto with his "Ossie" (a documentary of a regular Sinulog Photo Contest participant) garnered the highest score.

This year's other seven finalists are: Laarni Diane Cabanada's "Mga Mananagat", Michael Ian Sosmena's "Los Ninos de Sinulog," Franco Alido's "Rhythm in Unison" (same title as Tarog's), Bernard Villamor's "Believe," Clee Villasor's "Ritmo Sa Ritwal," Christian Linaban's "The Sinulog in Cebu," and Charles Bryan Larino's "Pagmata."

The Board of Judges during the selection of the 10 finalists were Lilu I. Alino, head of Creatives and Production of Bigfoot Global Solutions, Inc.; Mary Anne "Me'Anne" Alcordo-Solomon of Alcordo Advertising & Rotary Club of Cebu Fuente; Ron Heri Tan of Cebu Filmmakers' Society; and director Jojo Labella. While Prof. Radel Paredes of University of San Carlos; journalist Jose "Boboi" Costas; Victor Villanueva, a young award-winning filmmaker; Ron Heri Tan of the Cebu Filmmakers' Society; and director Jojo Labella composed the board for the final judging.

Official announcement and awarding ceremonies will be held today (Feb.11) at SM-Cebu's Entertainment Plaza at 1pm together with the awarding of the photo contest's winners. All 10 finalists of the Sinulog 2007 Video Documentary Competition will be shown starting 12noon before the start of the main program.

Prizes to be awarded are: P30,000 plus trophy for the grand prize, P20,000 plus trophy for the second prize, P10,000 plus trophy for the third prize, and P1,000 each for the seven other finalists.

The competition is an event under the Sinulog Foundation, Inc., in cooperation with the Cebu City Government and Cebu Filmmakers' Society.