Cebu Delegations Win Sinulog 2008

Lumad Basakanon of Basak Pardo and Siloy Festival of Alcoy town emerged as champions in the Free Interpretation and Sinulog-based category respectively in yesterday’s grand parade. 

This is the fourth year that Lumad Basakanon was declared grand champion in the same category having won it in 2004, 2005 and last year. It failed to get into the top five in 2006 because of a point deduction.

Nestor Jardin, president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the chief judge in the free interpretation category, said that as far as the scores of the five judges were concerned, Basakanon was the choice of the majority.

“They looked good on stage. Their whole presentation is very synchronized—not only the movement and choreography but also the production design, costume and music,” he said.

For grabbing the grand prize in the free interpretation category, Basakanon will get P500,000 and an additional P400,000 for coming in second in the street dancing category. Its choreographer will take home P30,000.

Alcoy Siloy Festival, for its part, snapped thre winning streak of Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe of Tangub City, which won it the past three years in the Sinulog-based category.

 Sinanduloy Festival settled for second place.

The Tangub City dancers however were declared as the street dancing champions ahead of Lumad Baskanon with Carmen taking third.

Judges in the Sinulog Based Category observed that Sinanduloy had a “poor” beginning when a child performer dressed as the Sto. Nino fell from a makeshift jeepney, an error, that the judges said could have been foreseen.

But judges said Alcoy Siloy Festival gave an “eyebreak” to the competition.

“The message was very clear and well-conceptualized on how it can be delivered through movement,” said Larry Gabao, vice head of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the chief judge in the Sinulog-based category.

While the “Siloy” performers were all children, Gabao said this had nothing to do with the judging, as what was seen was the “maturity of movement” and the concept of the presentation.

Landing in third place in the Sinulog Based Category is Pakol Festival of Sta. Catalina in Negros while barangay Lahug and Silaw Culture and Arts of Carcar Central National High School came in fourth and fifth respectively.

Sta. Catalina’s Pakol Festival was adjudged Best in Costume in the Sinulog Based Category.

On the other hand, Alikaraw Organization of Hilongos, Leyte was named Best in Musicality above all the participating contingents.

The technical movements of the Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe earned the judges’ nod in the aspect of street dancing because discipline is paramount in this area of competition and Sinanduloy’s consistency of movement showed just that, said Lordino Vergara, head of the Center for Culture and the Arts of the Philippine Normal University and chief judge in the street dancing competition.

Other winners in the free interpretation category include the Municipality of Carmen (second), Alikaraw Organization of Hilongos, Leyte (third), Tribu Iliganon of Iligan City (fourth) and Tribu Pintaflores of San Carlos City (fifth).

Carmen also won the Best in Costume in the same category, which entitles it to receive additional P100,000 cash prize.

Jardin revealed that the Carmen and Basakanon actually tied in the Best in Costume. To break the tie, he said that they did a voting where Carmen got more votes.

He said that despite the limited space, Carmen was able to perform well. The group performed on the rubberized track because the rains had forced the Sinulog organizers to transfer the stage.

A Huge Success

Not even the rain that came shortly after lunchtime could dampen the spirits of the Cebu City government officials and organizers, who were overwhelmed by the success of the Sinulog grand parade.

Osmena, in his opening message, thanked all those who helped in the Sinulog preparations.

Likewise, he expressed gratitude to the contingents, especially those from outside Cebu who joined this year’s grand parade.

“Sukad masukad, the Sinulog become successful because of you,” he said.

 He acknowledged Sen. Manuel Roxas III, who came early to witness the festivity and those who arrived early. “Wa diri si Korina (TV personality Korina Sanchez, Roxas’ girlfriend)?” The mayor asked the senator.

Just as Osmeña was about to end his opening message and declare the Sinulog open, two skydivers landed right on target at the stage.

The grand parade started as scheduled at 9 o’clock with Vice Mayor Michael Rama delivering a welcome message.

Osmeña said in an interview that what is so special about Cebu is that it does not look down at other places unlike what “imperial Manila” is doing.

“We’re so open and that’s something that is different about us. The out of town contingents feel they are welcome. That’s our culture that makes Cebu so special,” the mayor said.

The Cebu City Sports Center was bursting on its seams with people who were eager to witness the spectacular performances of the 51 contingents in the Sinulog-based and Free Interpretation categories.

Guest performers from the Cebu City government opened the parade at the stage set up at the sports center followed by the puppeteers then the Palawod Festival of Bantayan with Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia as their lead dancer.

Aside from the good performances of the contingents, the event also became an opportunity for the spectators to see the officials from the national and local government.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri later joined Sen. Roxas and the other VIPs at the grandstand.

Also spotted were 6th District Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz, Presidential Management Staff Chief Cerge Remonde, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Lt. Gen. Michael Cruz of Guam, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Francisco Benedicto, and some officials and guests from South Korea.  — with Liv Campo and Jasmin Uy/NLQ