Cordova Dinagat-Bakasi fest: Barangay Cogon wins P50T in dance competition

Barangay Cogon in Cordova town bagged top prize in the dance competition for the recently concluded Dinagat-Bakasi festival celebration.

The contingent received P50,000 cash. Also, it was adjudged Best in Costume, Best in Choreography and Best in Choreographer.

Barangay Ibabao and barangay Central grabbed second and third places, with P30,000 and P20,000 in cash prizes, respectively.

Only nine of the 13 barangays of Cordova, represented by elementary school pupils, participated in the street dancing competition in the now combined Dinagat-Bakasi festival celebration.

Cordova Mayor Arleigh Sitoy explained that the decision to combine the celebration of the seven-year-old Dinagat festivity that was replaced last year by the Bakasi festival served as the town's holistic approach to protecting marine resources most especially the bakasi, a saltwater eel found abundant in the municipality's 3,500-hectare foreshore land, especially in barangay Buagsong.

Highlighting yesterday's celebration of the fused festivities, attended by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Provincial Board member Agnes Magpale with Tourism regional director Patria Aurora "Dawnie" Roa, was the presentation offered by the Consolacion contingent showing the Sarok festival. The municipality of Compostela joined in the celebration as special guest and promoted the town's Caballo festival.

The Lumad Basakanon of barangay Basak-San Nicolas, a consistent winner in the Sinulog festivities these last few years, also graced the celebration; while barangay Marigondon in Lapu-Lapu City also performed the "Kadaugan sa Mactan".

Garcia, Magpale and Roa all praised the participating towns for coming up with festivities that support the "Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo" program of the province in coordination with the Department of Tourism-7.

Also, showbiz personality Sandara Park and other Manila-based talents were around to entertain the revelers. - Jose P. Sollano