Getting inspiration from calamities

CEBU, Philippines - Local contingents participating in the Sinulog sa Kabataan are taking this week to polish their performances before the competition this weekend.

For two groups, at least, their performances take inspiration from the recent calamities that hit the country.

The Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan (province) will take place on Saturday while the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan (city) will take place the following day.

There are nine contingents participating in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan and 12 contingents in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan.

Abellana National School, one of the contingents in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan is said to be 90 percent ready in choreography and 60 percent ready financially.

Walter Betito, artistic director of the Abellana Dance Troupe, said they have been rehearsing since October last year. The group participated and placed in the Sinulog-based category for the past four years but decided later to join in the Free Interpretation category instead. 

Betito said they made the move a week after super typhoon Yolanda hit the Visayas, considering that there will be fewer out-of-town contingents participating this year.

The group’s concept this year, he said, is “Dance of gratitude towards the countries who have helped the Philippines during our suffering of calamities.”

Despite the group’s funds falling short of the ideal at this point in time, Betito said he never asked the performing students to contribute. He also made sure that their classes would not be sacrificed by the practices.

“Ako mismo di ko ganahan mo-amot sila. Sila pay mosayaw, sila pa ang mobayad sa ilang costume. As a hired choreographer, naanad na ko nga naa na tanan,” he said.

He said what will make the performers stand out will be their devotion to the Santo Niño and their motivation to give their best in saying thanks to those who have helped the typhoon survivors.

Meanwhile, the Mandaue City Central School, one of the contingents gunning for a championship trophy in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, will be participating in the Sinulog-based category.

Like the Abellana National School, the group is taking inspiration from the resilience of the Filipinos in facing calamities.

The school’s principal, Aliena Quimque, said they are now 95 percent ready. She said the group’s performance will revolve around the idea that “We will be able to overcome calamities.”

Like the Abellana group, Quimque said performers from the Mandaue City Central School were not made to contribute financially. What are asked of them are focus and cooperation, she said.

She said the Mandaue City government through Mayor Jonas Cortes has given the group financial assistance of P2,742,000.00. The mayor’s wife also reportedly shelled out some cash from her own pocket.

So that the students won’t miss their lessons, Quimque said they will be given make-up classes for one hour every day and on Saturdays.

The top five contingents in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan and Dakbayan will be eligible to participate and compete during the Grand Parade on January 19.

Accommodation

Meanwhile, vacant rooms in hotels in the city are getting fewer and fewer as the date of the Sinulog Grand Parade draws near.

This early, two weeks to the Grand Parade on January 19, local and foreign tourists have started arriving.

Aicha Tabanera, Officer in Charge in Marketing and Communications of a hotel here, told The Freeman that they are now fully booked and that several of their guests have even asked to extend their stay.

“We are fully booked. We have 214 rooms and all are reserved from our guests,” Tabanera said.

Another hotel officer, Rolette Veloso, also shared that their hotel is now 80 percent occupied. She said they did not anticipate this high an occupancy rate considering the recent calamities that struck the country.

“We didn’t even expect it, since there are the recent calamities affected us last year. We’re really surprised that our online bookings are helping us,” she said.

Aside from the entertainment guests and visitors will witness in the streets, hotels, too, have their own gimmicks come Grand Parade day. One hotel for example has designated some members of its staff to perform the Sinulog dance at the establishment’s lobby. Another hotel will be hiring professional dancers to perform at the establishment.  (FREEMAN)