For alleged abandonment loot to sue Sinulog choreographer

CEBU, Philippines - Daanbantayan Mayor Maria Luisa Loot will be filing charges against her nephew, Barry Luche, the choreographer of Tribu Kandaya, the town’s contingent in last Sunday’s Sinulog Grand Parade, for damages and breach of contract.

Loot got irked with the fact that Luche also choreographed the Tribu Himag-ulaw from Placer, Masbate that bagged first place in the Free Interpretation Category. Daanbantayan placed fourth in the same category.

Luche said he will face the charges and insists Loot has since been aware of his commitment with the Placer contingent. He said Masbate Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lañete and her son, Placer Mayor Joshur Judd, have given him their support.

“If she thinks ikalipay niya ang iyang buhaton nako bisag iya kong pag-umangkon…nga iya ko ipapriso ug pabayron og danyos nga dos milyones…wala ko’y mahimo kung di atubangon ang kaso,” Luche said.

Luche explained that Loot was already aware of his commitment to help Masbate defend its placement in the competition. The Placer contingent also placed first in the same category last year.

Luche said he himself did not understand why Loot allegedly insisted to join this year’s Sinulog, but he reportedly accepted to choreograph Daanbantayan’s contingent because he was apprehensive of saying “no” to either Loot or Judd.

“Kalooy sa Sto. Niño, nisulod sa top five ang duha. Kabalo na pud ang Daanbantayan nga mas monindot ang akong Placer (Masbate) kaysa ila kay mogasto gyud sa taman,” Luche said.

Luche also revealed that the real reason behind Daanbantayan’s participation in this year’s Sinulog is to show Governor Gwendolyn Garcia that the Daanbantayan contingent is a force to reckon with.

“Barry, tarunga jud nang ato tribu ha kay di ko gusto nga pikatan ko ni Gov (Gwen). Bantay lang jud ka,” Luche quoted Loot as saying.

In an interview over Bantay Radyo, Loot said she has accepted their defeat but was hurt by Luche’s move to abandon the contingent two weeks before the Sinulog Grand Parade. During this time, Luche reportedly focused his attention on the Placer contingent.

Loot said Luche gave no explanation when he left and alleged that her nephew is under the influence of drugs and is difficult to talk to.

“Ngano ni-hire man siya og adik? Bisa’g ingon ana iya tan-aw nako, at least daku-dako na pud ko og natampo sa akong lungsod,” Luche argued.

“I have already made Daanbantayan known in the Philippines even in the whole world by winning Sinulog several times,” he added.

Before Loot became mayor, Tribu Kandaya won first prize in the Sinulog Grand Parade in 1996, 1997 and 1998 with Luche as choreographer.

It also won in 2003 when Loot was already mayor, however, Loot decided not to continue participating in the Sinulog and instead launched the town’s yearly Haladaya Festival in 2004.

With choreography as his primary means of livelihood, this prompted Luche to choreograph contingents from as far as Mindanao, among which is the delegation from Placer, Masbate. –  (FREEMAN)