Only 4 of 38 Cebu contingents make it to top spots

CEBU, Philippines - Of the 38 contingents from Cebu, only four groups made it to the top spots in this year’s Sinulog Festival.

They were Carcar City Division (third), Tuburan National High School (fourth), Talisay City Central Elementary School (fifth) under Sinulog-based category, and Lumad Basakanon of Barangay Basak San Nicolas (fifth) in Free Interpretation category and champion in street dancing. Carcar City also won Best in Musicality.

There were 44 competing contingents; 23 in Free Interpretation and 21 Sinulog-based.

Six of eight out-of-town contingents bagged the major prizes. They are Kulturang Placereño of Placer Masbate which emerged as champion in the Sinulog-based category followed by Tangub City’s Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe which also won Best in Costume, Buyogan Festival of Abuyog Leyte got the top prize in Free Interpretation category and Best in Musicality while Tribu Lingganay of Alang-Alang Leyte, Tribu Himag-ulaw of Placer Masbate and Tribu Katbalaogan of Catbalogan City, Samar ranked second, third, and fourth, respectively.  Tribu Lingganay won Best in Costume.

Despite coming from areas badly-hit by typhoons Yolanda, Ruby, Seniang and Queenie, these contingents managed to make it big in this year’s Sinulog.

This year was considered a sweet victory for the out-of-town contingents that showcased the “best” choreography so far. Fernil Palang, the Tribu Buyoganon’s choreographer, said even if most of their dancers and props men were affected by the calamities, they decided to continue to join to fulfill a promise to Senior Sto. Niño.

Tribu Buyoganon made it again this year after winning in 2009 and placed second in 2011. It gave the best performance in Free Interpretation category, where dancers have to follow tradition in the beat and dance steps of the Sinulog, as a prayer dance in honor of the Holy Child.

Palang said their ritual presentation followed the storyline about “conflict” where a huge praying-mantis attacked a bee to death.  But the bee was saved by the Holy Child. The performance cost the group about P3 million.

Palang said they will prepare more for next year’s presentation with more surprises to defend their title.

Judge Chris Millado, artistic director at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, said it was Tribu Buyogan played with props artistry and dance choreography.

He said the group’s opening sequences immediately established the theme clearly and manage the use of props properly without overpowering the story-telling.

 “The spectacle and balance was there. It was very good. It was a very close and nose-to-nose fight,” he said.

“This year, balance na kahit malaki ang set. Nagkakaroon ng maturity, they already know how to balance. It’s excellent,” he added.

On the other hand, Kulturang Placereño choreographer Victor Cuenco said the calamity was a “thorn” in their preparations but it never shake their “trust and faith” to the Holy Child. Cuenco said their concept banks on the “bounty harvest of sugarcane” in their locality.

The group used LED lights in their props, which wowed the judges and crowd for a very impressive and innovative concept.

“Due to the advent of technology we incorporated lights which I believe is a very different approach. But, it took us months to settle the LED lights,” Cuenco said.

Kulturang Placereño has won twice in a row for the SB category last year since it started joining Sinulog in 2012.

Millado said it was the first time they have seen the use of LED lights on Sinulog stage, saying “it is a very good innovation.”

The judges advised the contingents joining in next year’s Sinulog “to think beyond the box” in terms of ritual concept, props and choreography.

“Sinulog is still a dance and the expression should bank from the dance itself,” Millado said, adding that the contingents should “balance” the vast set with good story-telling.

For choreographers, he said, they should keep on looking for new concepts and continue telling “rich” Filipino stories.

“Ang dami-daming sources of stories natin you don’t have to look from other countries because we have rich imagery, culture, steps, sounds, among others. The more we thrust on the richness of our culture, the more it is enticing and interesting,” he said.— (FREEMAN)