New moves make Sinanduloy a standout

CEBU, Philippines - New moves and combinations successfully made Tangub City’s Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe stand out among other contingents in last Sunday’s Sinulog Festival.

This was according to Jojin Pascual, the choreographer, who vowed to give a more spectacular performance next year.

The Sinanduloy Cultural Group was the grand champion in the Sinulog-based category, their 11th win in the Sinulog.

“We’re definitely coming back next year,” Pascual said, adding that Sinanduloy has become an institution and a part of Sinulog.

He said yesterday during the awarding and repeat performance of winners that part of their preparations this year was to create moves and combinations that are new to the eyes of the spectators and judges.

He said he has noticed, and many agreed, that several of their trademark moves have been copied by other contingents in the Sinulog-based category.

Nestor Jardin, one of the board of judges, shared the same observation. 

Jardin told the media last Sunday that there has been ‘cloning’ of moves among contingents.

“Normal naman ‘yon na kapag may champion, syempre gagayahin yung nag-champion. Sa nakita ko, pare-pareho na lang every year. Ang hinuhusgahan na lang ngayon yong precision, execution and projection,” he said.

Jardin encouraged choreographers to innovate and be more creative in their choreography.

Pascual said by coming up with new moves and combinations, he made sure the element of reverence is still present.  Sinanduloy was described by the judges as ‘elegant.’

Pascual said it can be attributed to their moves and how it was enhanced by their costume. He said the skirt alone, made of pure velvet, is very expensive.

But the city government of Tangub gave them an all-out support. They won best in costume.

They spent P2 million and even if the grand prize of the competition is much lower than their yearly budget for production, he said, money is not their main goal in joining.

“Di masukod ang kalipay sa mga bata. The exposure, the experience. Di sad masukod ang mileage,” Pascual said.

Tangub has championed the SB category for the 11th time since they started joining in 2000.  They still hold the record of the contingent with the most wins.

Sinanduloy was well-applauded yesterday by the audience that filled the Cebu City Sports Center grandstand during the awarding and repeat performance of the winners.  (FREEMAN)