Sinulog 2010 winners get prizes

CEBU, Philippines - The Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe of Tangub City and Tribu Himag-ulaw of Placer, Masbate, which bested other 44 contingents in their respective categories, were recognized in yesterday’s awarding ceremony at Cebu City Sports Center along with other winners of the Sinulog grand parade.

A total of P1 million was received by the Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe having won the grand prize for the Sinulog-based category and another P500,000 for the Best in Street Dancing category.

Tribu Himag-ulaw went home with P500,000 for topping other contingents in the Free Interpretation category.

While this is the first time for Tribu Himag-ulaw to win the grand prize having placed sixth last year, this is Tangub City’s ninth win in Sinulog grand parade having won seven times in the Free Interpretation category and twice in Sinulog-based category.

In the Sinulog-based category, Abellana National School received P400,000 while Silaw Culture and Arts won P300,000 for winning second and third places, respectively.

Barangay Lahug landed fourth place with P200,000 and Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. Memorial National School went home with P100,000 for landing fifth place.

In the Free Interpretation category, Lumad Basakanon placed second and got P400,000 and another P50,000 for the Best in Musicality.

Pintaflores of San Carlos City bagged P300,000 for landing third place and The Land of Beauty and Bounty from Lanao del Norte received P200,000 for placing third and another P100,000 for winning third place in the Street dancing category.

According to Mark Luche, choreographer of Tribu Himag-ulaw, their concept was based on the veneration to Sto. Niño who helped cure a sick child. A hundred replicas of the Sto. Niño and portraits of angels were paraded towards the end of their performance. 

He attributed their success to their four-month practice claiming that “difficult steps” in the dance challenged the dancers, who were even out-of-school youth and trisikad drivers.

The dancers wore gold costumes accentuated with copper and silver prints and adorned with Tikab shells.

Tikab shells, according to Luche, are abundant in the seas of Masbate.

“Wala mi mag-expect na makadaog… we only expected na mag-land mi ug third... pero seguro tungod sa unique, synchronized, og paspas among choreography mao na nakadaog mi,” he said.

He added that of the 100 dancers who danced in the grand parade, one male dancer did not make it due to a bone fracture.

Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe said they owe their win to the “twist and turn” of their presentation which featured a bountiful harvest.

Choreographer Jojin Pascual said that they started screening their dancers early October last year adding that they had new dancers who needed extensive training.

He said that they have the plus factor in their performance because of production, floor formation and pattern, and gimmickry.

Both choreographers received P30,000 each.

Also awarded were the respective winners of Float, Puppeteer, On-site décor, Visual Merchandising and Higante categories.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, the honorary chairman of the Sinulog Foundation, Inc. thanked volunteers, choreographers, costume makers, street cleaners as “unsung heroes” of the 30th Sinulog.

“Daghan kaayo ang heroes na wala ma-recognize, limpyo ang streets sa basura,” he said.

He said that Sinulog is a demonstration of cooperation, sacrifice, sensitivity and inspiration.

Osmeña is running for Congress against Jonathan Guardo.

He added that with the heavy turnout of spectators every year, it would not be advisable to reconstruct the grandstand since it is impossible to accommodate all people who want to watch Sinulog in the Cebu City Sports Center.

He, however, said he is still studying if the next staging of the Sinulog can be held at the South Road Properties or in the North Reclamation Area.

Other awardees who received plaques of appreciation in yesterday’s ceremony were 13 original incorporators of SFI. Ronald Duterte and Jose Lardizabal were given posthumous awards.

For participating in the first Sinulog grand parade, eight universities in Cebu were recognized; these are University of San Carlos,

University of Cebu, Cebu Technological University, University of San Jose-Recoletos, Cebu Institute of Technology, Southwestern University, University of the Visayas and University of Southern Philippines-Foundation.

The contingents who won in the Sinulog grand parade at least thrice were also awarded. They were San Diego Dance Company, Southwestern University, Lumad Basakanon, and Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe.

Choreographers Dennis and Norman Navarro, Jojin Pascual, Victor Cuenco, Walter Betito, Val San Diego were recognized for producing at least three grand prize winners in the last 30 years. A posthumous award was also given to Melquiades Gonzales, Jr.,   Florentino Solon, David Odilao Jr., Renato Osmeña, Dolores Suzara, Estelita Diola, Dandin Ranillo, and Mike Hanopol were recognized as pillars of Sinulog Festival. Juan Aquino was given a posthumous award. — Marjun A. Baguio/BRP  (FREEMAN NEWS)