Lumad Basakanon eyes 'grand slam'

Each year, the Sinulog Grand Parade stretches longer as more and more contingents join; the dance contest itself becomes competitive. But despite the growing number of participants, regular contingents remain unthreatened.

Among these is no less than the Lumad Basakanon of Basak, San Nicolas. Having won the championship title for the Free Interpretation Participants Category consecutively in 2004 and 2005, they are said to be one of the toughest competitors for this year's dance contest.

Lumad Basakanon, often mistaken as Tribu Basakanon, has been a contingent since 1991. In its more than 10 years of competing, the Basakanons have garnered a long list of wins and victories.

They have always been known for their grand and unique performances. Last year, they portrayed the lives of the mangongopras (coconut gatherers) of Cogon, Naga. Well, for this year, in order to protect the originality of their concept and storyline, what the Basakanons will be remains a mystery until the festival day arrives.

The contingent is composed of 100 dancers, majority of which are out-of-school youths. Others are middle-aged residents of the barangay and a few students. All had their auditions and practices as early as September last year.

The youngBasakanons: Dancing for Sto. Niño Rey Catagcatag is one of the Lumad Basakanon dancers. Rey started dancing for the Child Jesus since 1997 as a school requirement when he was yet in second year high school. The yearly school requirement eventually turned Rey into a devotee himself. So after graduating from high school, he decided to continue dancing for the Sto. Nino. He auditioned for Lumad Basakanon and to this day remains to be a loyal member of the group.

Patrick Roy Lonquines also dances for Lumad Basakanon. But unlike Rey, he only began dancing for the Sinulog festival last 2003. He first joined Tribu Kinaiyahan of San Nicolas proper. But because he was a resident of Basak, San Nicolas, Patrick found joining Lumad Basakanon more convenient so that by December 2003, he became an official member of the latter. Since then, like Rey, Patrick has never left the group.

He shares that ever since he was a teenager he has always loved dancing that watching his friends dance for the Sinulog festival always left him envious. Aside from his love of dance, Patrick also wants to make the Sinulog his way of offering sacrifice for the Sto. Nino. Dancing serves as his pledge for his requests.

Currently a fourth-year college student of Information Technology at Asian College of Technology, most of Patrick's prayer requests are for his academic standing and performance. And so far, he says, most have already been granted. - Marisar Ivy Cabatingan