Cebu - Two out-of-town contingents bagged the top prizes in the yesterday’s Sinulog Festival.
The Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe of Tangub City bagged the first prize among the 16 contingents for the Sinulog-based category while the Tribu Buyoganon of Abuyog in Leyte bested 28 other contingents in the Free Interpretation.
Sinanduloy was also adjudged the champion in the street dancing category.
Lordinio Vergara, one of the judges for street dancing, said Sinanduloy won because of its “clean movements and oneness of the troop.”
Its lead dancer, 15-year-old Iris Mae Linganay, was also chosen as the Festival Queen.
The Don Sergio Sr. Memorial National High School, which won the Best in Costume award, bagged the second place. Don Sergio also won last week’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan.
Third place goes to Silaw Culture and Arts representing Carcar City, while Siloy Festival of Alcoy and Pakol Festival of Sta. Catalina in Negros Oriental were fourth and fifth respectively.
Alcoy was the fourth runner-up in Street Dancing.
Josefina Guillen, President of the Philippine Folk Dance Society, said Sinanduloy’s presentation was refreshing.
“It (presentation) was not usual, something new and it (Sinanduloy) always excites the audience,” Guillen said.
Don Sergio, on the other hand, was not only colorful and fitting with its costume. Its choreography also went with its actions.
In the Free Interpretation, Tribu Buyoganon won with its environmental theme. The group was third runner-up in Street Dancing.
The second prize goes to Lumad Basakanon of Basak San Nicolas, which was also the first runner-up in Street Dancing. Third place goes to the Carmen contingent.
The Lanao del Norte contingent and the Karatong Festival of Dulag, Leyte were fourth and fifth respectively.
According to Buyoganon’s choreographer Victor Cuenco, they spend around P1.2 million for their entire production.
Nestor Jardin, chairman of the Board of Judges for the Free Interpretation, said the actions of the Buyoganon have gone well with its costumes.
The first prize winners for the Sinulog-based and Free Interpretation will receive P500,000. Second placers will get P300,000 each and third placers will go home with P200,000. Fourth and fifth placer will receive P150,000 and P100,000 respectively.
Winners in the Street Dancing will receive the same prizes as those of the two major categories.
Other Winners
For visual merchandizing, first prize goes to Elizabeth Mall. Metro Gaisano placed second while SM City was third.
For the on-site decoration category, the St. Cecilia’s College won the first prize, the Abellana National School (Mathematics Teachers Association came in second and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas placed third.
In the float category, International Pharmaceutical Inc. bagged the first prize, Lacto Bacillus Pafi Techno Res. Corp. placed second while the Seacrest Maritime Foundation Inc./Southwestern University settled for third prize.
In the higante category, first place goes to Giovanni Abos, second to Florentina Tabaco and third to Tribu Magta.
For the puppeteers’ category, Alfred Bayon-on won the first prize. Pierre Famador bagged the second prize while Noelito Famadot won the third prize.
Carmen was adjudged as best in musicality.
Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos said the crowd yesterday was estimated at 2.8 million.
The Cebu provincial government personnel headed by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia danced earlier in the program with the Tostados dancers of Santander town.
She wore an electric blue Swarovski sequined gown made by Philip Rodriguez.
“Sinulog is for the entire Cebu. No more distinction whether province or City. My dance is dedicated for the health of the Mayor,” Garcia said.
The Cebu City government was represented by the beneficiaries of the Cebu City Task Force on Street Children. With a theme on “globalization,” its presentation was lead by city Councilor Lea Japzon.
The grand finale was performed by dancers of the University of San Carlos and University of San Jose-Recoletos. A display of fireworks for more than 10 minutes culminated the festival.
Several contingents complained about the failure of the crowd control personnel to maintain order in the parade route.
It was observed that many people gathered at the Sinulog judges’ stations installed along the parade route.
Acting Mayor Michael Rama, the chairman of the Sinulog organizing committee, explained that the judges’ stations were set up in strategic locations to ensure that contingents will perform along the parade route.
These stations were set up along P. del Rosario Street, Imus Street corner Lorega Street, General Maxilom Avenue, Osmena Boulevard and at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Police authorities claimed success on their security implementation.
In a text message to The Freeman, Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos, director of the Police Regional Office-7, said there were no major untoward incidents yesterday.
Security forces, including those from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, were seen near the parade route.
“There were no shooting, stabbing, mauling, gang or frat war, usual crowd control problems but speed cops were used to clear it. Traffic management is still being undertaken …we were in control of the situation but let the people judge whether we failed or not,” Roderos said.
An estimated 2,000 policemen were deployed during yesterdays’ activities. – With Rene U. Borromeo and Edwin Ian Melecio AJ A De Le Torre and Bentley Naire C. Luyong (THE FREEMAN)