Sinulog sa Kabataan – Lalawigan: Asturias, Danao contingents win

CEBU, Philippines – A day before the grand showdown, Rutchel Japitan of Looc Norte National High School in Asturias and her fellow dancers cried in shock and anxiety after unidentified individuals marred their props for the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan yesterday.

The props were kept at the Cebu City Sports Center.

“Perti gyod namong guola atong tayma, sir. Pero nag-think positive lang gyod mi kay kabalo ming tabangan mi ni Santo Niño,” she shared with The Freeman.

Japitan said they almost lost confidence and crammed to fix what they worked hard and sweated on for weeks.

The group’s optimism and faith  paid off. Their performance, which was inspired by the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC), propelled them to the top spot in the Secondary Level category ritual showdown.

Audience let out loud cheers for the group’s performers dressed as nuns and priests holding flags of different countries as a way of welcoming the delegates. One even came out like the Pope.

Apparently, the judges agreed with the audience.

The group’s choreographer, Walter Batito, said it took them almost three weeks to finish and master the entire routine.

He said it was challenging for him to manage the group considering it was their first time to perform in the Sinulog ritual showdown. He himself, suffers from a disability.

Batito, a dancer for years, lost his right leg to infection.

As grand prize winner, Looc Norte National High School received P350,000. It also got P30,000 as second best in musicality and another P30,000 for being best in street dancing.

Three contingents competed in the elementary level and six competed in the secondary level.

Looc Norte National High School bested Carcar City Division (2nd), which had won thrice in a row, and defending champion Tinubdan sa Kauswagan Cultural Dance Troupe of Tuburan (3rd), Mandaue City Youth Cultural Dance Troupe (4th), and Tribu Alegrianhon (5th).

In the Street Dancing category, Tinubdan sa Kauswagan Cultural Group – Tuburan landed first followed by Looc Norte National High School, and Mandaue City Youth Cultural Dance Troupe  Carcar City Division won Best in Costume.

In the elementary division, Pundok sa Kabataang Mananayaw sa Danao City whose performance featured Filipino superheroes and entities from “komiks” was proclaimed winner in the ritual showdown with P350,000.

Val Jacobe, a dance master, told The FREEMAN the concept came from the Filipinos’ love for komiks.

“One month mi nag-practice and we have 96 dancers and 800 propsmen,” he said.

 Danao City was also adjudged best in musicality and received P50,000 and placed third in street dancing and received P20,000.

Naga Central School got P200,000 as second place winner and Tribu Ginatilan received P150,000 as third place winner.

Naga Central School got P50,000 for being best in costume and in street dancing and P30,000 for being second best in musicality.

In street dancing, Tribu Ginatilan placed second while Pundok sa Kabataang Mananayaw sa Danao City placed third.

Naga Central Elementary School was adjudged Best in Costume.

In Musicality, Pundok sa Kabataang Mananayaw sa Danao City bagged the first place followed by Naga Central Elementary School (second) and Tribu Ginatilan (third). — /JMO  (FREEMAN)