Martinez eyes “grander” Pintos Festival next year

CEBU, Philippines - After staging the 3rd Pintos Festival, reelected Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. has assured of a grander festival next year as they aimed to gather more visitors particularly foreign tourists to flock the competition.

“The Pintos Festival is getting better every year,” said Martinez after the successful staging of the much improved festival last Sunday.

Started in 2011, the Pintos Festival, which coincides with the town fiesta during the latter part of May, replaced the Kuyayang Festival, with its roots in a traditional courtship dance.

Pintos is the town’s delicacy made from corn, milk, and butter or margarine. It is now the center of efforts to promote the city through the Pintos Festsival.

Acting Governor and Vice Governor-elect Agnes Magpale, who graced the event, appreciated that the local officials of the city have recognized the objective of the festival as part of the master plan to promote the countryside to tourists.

Five contingents bested each other in this year’s festival. They were Tribu Masidlakon of Felipe Verallo Foundation College, Banggiitang Tribu of Barangay Sambag Youth Dancers, Bogohanon Tribe of Barangay Cogon (Kita Kits Production), Tribu Masaulogon of Barangay Nailon Youth Movers, and Nagkahiusang Kabataang Gairanon of Barangay Gairan Young Leaders Federation.

With their will to win and superb performance, Nagkahiusang Kabataang Gaironon dominated the contest. They bagged P40,000 cash prize and a trophy for the ritual and showdown. They also took home all the minor awards such as best in costume (P10,000), best in musicality (P10,000), and street dancing (P10,000) for a total cash prize of P30,000.

Choreographer Jose Marie Palang Jamili said he was so proud for their unexpected win considering that they didn’t win last year.

“Our dancers were just confident and willing to give their best for the competition,” he said.

Banggiitang Tribu and Bogohanon Tribe won second and third; they received P30,000 and P20,000 cash prizes, respectively.

For the first time in three years, City Tourism Officer Jocelyn Tan said they inserted the musicality award to make this year’s festival livelier. — (FREEMAN)