Four contingents to join for first time

CEBU, Philippines - Four out-of-town contingents will perform in the Sinulog grand parade for the first time.

They are the contingents from the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay; Alay Performing Arts of the Municipality of Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte; Kalivungan Festival of the Municipality of Pikit, North Cotabato; and Tribu Lingganay of Alang-alang, Leyte.

They all have their own reasons for joining but among these reasons, there is but one they all share — to offer their dance to the Holy Child as a thanksgiving for all the blessings the Santo Niño has graced upon them and for the protection against disasters.

Sibug-sibug Festival of Zamboanga Sibugay

The province of Zamboanga Sibugay, bringing almost 500 delegates, has traveled almost 24 hours to get here to feature the province’s rich marine ecology.

Zamboanga Sibugay’s Acting Provincial Tourism Officer Edilee Daarol said the concept of their performance seeks to promote the protection of marine resources as a source of food and one of the main sources of livelihood in their province. They will also feature the natural wonders of Sibugay including its people.

“Our joining is a “halad” to the Sto. Niño for all the blessings we received and at the same time to promote our province as a peaceful place with lots of natural wonders waiting to be discovered,” Daarol said.

Zamboanga Sibugay is located in the heart of the Zamboanga Peninsula. It is home to the largest coal mine in the country and has one of the largest rubber plantations in the country.

Zamboanga Sibugay brought 100 dancers, 100 propsmen while the rest of the 500 delegates are the officials and staff of the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay headed by Governor Rommel Jalosjos who is expected to arrive in Cebu today.

Daarol said their expenditure has reached almost P5 million. They brought with them six dump trucks to transport their props alone.

Their performance is also inspired by their own Sibug-sibug Festival. This is the same group of student-dancers from Sta. Clara National High School from Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay who are champions in different festivals in Mindanao last year.

Daarol said they have shown the whole Mindanao what Sibugay has to offer and they want to conquer Visayas.

“We dream to be known to the Visayans,” Daarol said.

Kalivungan Festival of North Cotabato

Over 70 percent of North Cotabato contingents are Muslims while the rest are Christians.

North Cotabato Provincial Board Member and head of delegation Dulia Sultan said unity among Muslims and Christians in their place is precisely what they are trying to promote as they join the Sinulog Celebration.

The North Cotabato contingent is composed of high school students from Pikit National High School in the Municipality of Pikit, North Cotabato.

Pikit town in North Cotabato, coincidentally traces a part of its history back here in Cebu because early colonists of Pikit were identified as Cebuanos who migrated in the area in the early 1910s.

Trainer Elese Sugaste said that their performance will feature the role of the early Cebuanos in their history and culture. Cebuanos are believed to have brought corn, which is their main crop, to Pikit.

Despite the fact that their performers are dominated by Muslims, they joined the Sinulog to tell the world that Muslims and Christians are united in their place therefore the reason for war in Mindanao is not religion.

They also want to thank the Santo Niño for the protection against the disaster brought by the recent Typhoon Sendong. Sultan said Pikit is a flood-prone area because of its topography but they were spared.

They have 205 performers including the propsmen and the band. They spent close to P2 million to join.

Lingganay Festival of Alang-alang Leyte

Alang-alang Leyte contingent championed last year’s Tacloban Pintados Kasadyaan Festival which made them the official representative of the province of Leyte for this year’s Sinulog.

Emerito Custodio, the contingent’s choreographer who is based in Cebu, said their performance will feature the municipality of Lingganay’s historical symbol —the golden bell.

“Our concept is about the preservation of nature as a way to save lives, properties, history and culture of a place,” Custodio said, this amid reports of grave losses in some parts of the country due to natural disasters such as floods and landslide.

The Alang-alang contingent brought 96 dancers and 170 propsmen. The expenditure has so far reached P2 million. He said there are elements of surprise to watch out for when they perform on Sunday.

Alay Festival of Zamboanga del Norte

Zamboanga del Norte’s Sinulog Based entry will feature the crowning of the Sto. Niño. They did not talk much about their performance but they assured they have been preparing for a showdown.

They have 85 dancers and 46 propsmen.

Head of delegation, Lorenzo Tan Jr. said it is an honor to join the Sinulog as an offering to the Santo Niño. They started practicing since last October. —/BRP (FREEMAN)