For Next Year: Sinulog Foundation eyes robotics theme

CEBU, Philippines - After the successful Chinese-themed Sinulog 2011, the Sinulog Foundation Incorporated is thinking of a futuristic theme next year.

Ricky Ballesteros, SFI executive director, said they are thinking of putting a modern touch for the Sinulog 2012.

“So next year will be more on robotics and the likes. But that is the initial plan, of course we have to finalize that,” he said.

SFI deviated from the conventional Sinulog celebration this year by choosing a Chinese theme to pay tribute to the Chinese community in Cebu.

The tribute was more emphasized during the 30-minute Grand Finale last Sunday which combined the Chinese and Cebuano cultures through songs and dance drama.

Ballesteros said they will also start thinking ahead of the design of the stage to fit the ‘futuristic’ essence that they want to highlight.

The sports center oval will be rehabilitated starting this summer. Balleteros said the rubberized oval already needs to be rehabilitated as it is already battered through the years of use especially during Sinulog.

When it is fully rehabilitated, Ballesteros said that they have to seal the whole oval with thick plywoods for protection.

The sports center will remain the Sinulog venue until the SFI finds a bigger site for the festival that is attracting more and more tourists every year.

This year’s Sinulog winners received their trophies and cash prizes yesterday afternoon during the awarding ceremony at the Cebu City Sports Center where they were also asked to repeat performance.

Winners of the Sinulog Based and Free Interpretation categories each received cash prizes of P500,000 for the champions, P300,000 for the second placers, P200,000 for the third placers, P150,000 for the fourth placers and P100,000 for the fifth placers.

The best in costume awardees each received P100,000 while the best in musicality awardees got P50,000 each.

Sinulog 2011 grand champions Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe of Tangub City, Misamis Occidental and Tribu Himag-ulaw of Placer, Masbate together with the rest of the winners once again wowed the crowd of their spectacular presentation.

Barry Luche, choreographer of Tribu Himag-ulaw, which won the Free Interpretation Category, said that their town officials planned a grand treat for the whole team including the dancers, props men and crew. They are leaving the city tonight but they have planned a city tour before going back to their town.

Masbate Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lañete, after winning the grand prize, vowed to transform the reputation of their place from being known for political killings into a peaceful province and a tourist destination.

“Kalamboan gayud sa Masbate ang among ginahangyo sa Sr. Sto. Niño,” Lañete said over Bantay Radyo yesterday morning.

Tangub City Mayor Philip Tan, delegation head of Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe, said they will go back to the Basilica del Sto. Niño Basilica and to the shrine of Pedro Calunsod to offer thanksgiving before going home.

Back home, they will also offer a thanksgiving mass and will perform again before their own people.

“We want to share to our own people our success here. We are very happy to become the new record holder,” Tan said.

Tangub City is now Sinulog’s record holder for having the most number of championship wins. It is their ninth championship in the Sinulog Base category but they have also championed in the Free Interpretation category the first time they joined in 1994.

Tan said that their victory is probably the fruit of their commitment to Youth Development.

Members of the Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe are scholars of a one-year youth development program of Tangub City.

Tan said that their members are not only trained for Sinulog but also in other fields of cultural arts.

Tangub City and Placer successfully defended their crowns last year but it was the first time that Cebu’s Lumad Basakanon did not place in the main competition.

Josefina Guillen, chairman of the board of judges for the FI category, said that they are saddened by the performance they saw with the Basakanon of Barangay Basak San Nicolas that used to be in the top five of the competition.

 “I have seen the height or the success of Basakanon and I feel sad of what we saw. They have deviated from the usual routine and they are trying to find a different way but it was not done well,” Guillen said.

Nestor Jardin, one of the judges, said that they appreciate that the choreographers of the group attempted to reinvent their style as the group might have realized that they have to show the people something new.

“When you reinvent, it’s very difficult. So we have to give them time,” he said.

Other SB winners include Abellana National School, Bayawan City’s Tawo-tawo Festival and Cebu City Central School. The best in musicality and best in costume award in the SB category went to Tangub City and City of Carcar respectively.

Other FI winners are Buyoganon of Abuyog, Leyte, Tribu Mabolokon-Mabolo Elementary School, Tribu Kandaya-Daanbantayan Cebu and Talamban Elementary School. The best in musicality and best in costume awards in the FI category went to Tribu Himag-ulaw and Tribu Buyoganon, respectively.

Tangub City also ranked first in the Street Dancing Category followed by the Province of Lanao del Norte: The Land of Beauty and Bounty and Lumad Basakanon.

Street Dance top scorers received P500,000, P300,000 and P200,000 respectively in cash prizes.

On sight décor winners are Bangko Central ng Pilipinas (first), PLDT Co. (second) and Abellana National School (third).

The best three in visual merchandising are Elizabeth Mall (first), Gaisano Main (second) and Gaisano Country Mall (third).    (FREEMAN NEWS)