MOA says contract is not exclusive

CEBU, Philippines - The Memorandum of Agreement entered into between the Municipality of Daanbantayan and Mark Barry Luche did not specify exclusivity of the latter to choreograph the Sinulog contingent of the former.

The municipality, represented by Mayor Maria Luisa Loot, engaged the services of Luche, who also happened to be her nephew, to “act as choreographer of street dancing and showdown mardigras.”

The two-paged notarized agreement also provides that Luche shall “supervise design for grand arches, provides training and dance steps for the mardigras.”

Aside from being the choreographer, Luche danced with the contingents acting as chieftain of the tribe during the showdown at the Cebu City Sports Center last Sunday.

Loot will reportedly file charges against Luche, the choreographer of Tribu Kandaya, the town’s contingent in last Sunday’s Sinulog Grand Parade, for damages and breach of contract.

The town council already has passed a resolution authorizing Loot to take legal action against Luche during its January 12 session, days before the Sinulog Grand Parade on January 16.

Luche earlier said he did not abandon the Tribu Kandaya in favor of Tribu Himag-ulaw of Placer, Masbate which he also choreographed.

Tribu Himag-ulaw bagged first place in the Free Interpretation Category while Tribu Kandaya placed fourth in the same category.

While Luche is accused of abandoning dancers of Daanbantayan, its festival queen, Jey Ann Avenido, a 17-year-old Hospitality Management student of the University of San Jose-Recoletos, won first runner- up and was adjudged Best in Festival Costume, Best Solo Performer and Best Opening Production Number.

Luche has committed himself to choreograph Tribu Himag-ulaw after it won first place in 2010 Sinulog and is obliged to defend its title this year while Daanbantayan decided to join the Sinulog this year only after the holding of its Haladaya Festival in August last year.

Luche said he can never say no to Loot because he grew up in Daanbantayan and the mayor is also his aunt.

The family of Luche appealed to Loot to settle the matter without necessarily going to court and instead thank the Sr. Sto. Niño that the two contingents that he choreographed won.

Luche insisted he already has made Daanbantayan known in the Philippines even in the whole world by winning in the Sinulog several times.

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, she decided not to continue participating in the Sinulog and instead launched the town’s yearly Haladaya Festival in 2004.

After Daanbantayan stopped joining Sinulog, Luche decided to choreograph out-of-town contingents. (FREEMAN)