Sinulog 2016 Grand Parade: Old favorites rule

CEBU, Philippines - A performance that showed how peace was achieved by two warring groups with the help of Holy Child earned the judges’ collective nod in yesterday’s Free Interpretation category ritual showdown of the Sinulog Grand Parade.

The routine won Lanao del Norte the top spot for the first time after eight faithful years of joining the contest since 2009.

 “The concept and the theme of Lanao del Norte that they chose is very really relevant because it is about peace among followers of various religions. I think it is very timely,” said Nestor Hardin, former president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

They dethroned Tribu Buyoganon of Abuyog, Leyte in the Free Interpretation category.

Lanao del Norte bested 14 other contingents as it showcased their “Sagayan Dance.”

Meanwhile, Kulturang Placereño of Placer, Masbate, won the top award for the third consecutive year for the Sinulog-Based category. They also won Best in Costume with P100,000.

It bested 16 other contingents in this category.

This is their fourth win in the Sinulog Grand Parade having won for the years 2012, 2014, and 2015.

This year is their third consecutive years of winning. Victor Cuenco, the choreographer of the group, said they chose the unique concept that they have not presented in previous years. The group presented the “Fiesta sa Sugbo” with carnivals, with their performers depicting happy and jovial carnival-goers.

Cuenco said they only had one month and 15 days to practice unlike the other contingents who were already practicing three months before the competition.

This year, Kulturang Placereño had 100 dancers and 50 instrumentalists.

The Lanao del Norte featured its Sagayan Dance, which is a Maranao war dance performed to ward off evil spirits. The contingents of Lanao del Norte performed the modernized version of Darangen, a Maranao epic story depicting two warring groups that reconciled and united by a Bai-A-Labi who succeeded in bringing lasting peace.”

Clad in red, gold, and green costume, the champion showcased their traditional dance.

Lanao del Norte also bagged the Best in Costume award with P100,000 price and also won Best in Musicality winning them another P100,000.

Other winners for the Free Interpretation include Tribu Katbalauganon, Catbalogan City (second), Buyogan Festival of Abuyog, Leyte (third), Tribu Himag-ulaw of Placer, Masbate (fourth), and Lumad Basakon (fifth).

Other Sinulog-Based category winners are Carcar City Division, Cebu (second), Tangub City’s Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe (third), Pundok sa Kabataang Mananayaw sa Danao City (fourth), and Municipality of Tuburan (fifth).

Winners of both Sinulog-Based and Free Interpretation categories received the same prices and all of them will get a trophy. First prize winners will get P1 million each, second place winners will get P700,000; the third place winners will receive P500,000; the fourth place winners will have P300,000; and the fifth place winners will get P200,000.

For street dancing category, Buyogan Festival of Abuyog Leyte got the first price and followed by Tangub City’s Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe  (second), Kulturang Placereño (third), Carcar City Division (fourth), and Lumad Basakanon (fifth).

Winners of the street dancing category received P1 million; while first, second, third, fourth, and fifth placers will get P700,000; P500,000; P300,000; and P200,000, respectively.

There were 32 contingents this year, 17 for the Sinulog-Based and 15 for the Free Interpretation.

For the Sinulog-Based, the concept, idea or theme is centered on preservation and transformation.

This category uses legends attributed to the miraculous Holy Child. It also uses historical research, legend, folkdances and folklores as well as events related to the origin of the worship of the Holy Child.

The Free Interpretation category uses the dance steps and movements of an indigenous Philippine or a foreign group using the Sinulog beat without having to portray religious significance. It can also showcase foreign influences in the concept, theme or ritual as shown in the choreography, costumes, props and accessories.

This year’s number of contingents is fewer that last year’s 44 contingents.

Sinulog Foundation Inc. Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros said the number of contingents would likely decrease during election years since some of the local government units are not willing to spend large amount of money to fund their participants.

Judges

 “The way the dancers performed was very laudable, they were quiet energetic. And they were able to sustain the energy from beginning to end,” Jardin said, describing the Lanao del Norte contingent.

Further, he said their production design was “exemplary”, while the choreography was “synchronized.”

Jardin said Lanao del Norte was able to dethrone Buyogan Festival as the latter “rehashed” their steps and concepts.

For the Kulturang Placereño of Placer Masbate, Josephina Guillen said the judges were unanimous in choosing them for the top spot.

Guillen is the past president of Philippine Folk Dance Association.

 “They stand out. The total production, artistry, the level of performance was high,” she said, adding that the choreography went very well. She added that the highlights were placed in the right timing.

Finale

The grand finale that cost P2.5 million was capped with P300,000 worth of fireworks that lit up the sky.

Since the city is hosting the 51st International Eucharistic Congress next week, Ballesteros decided to present the different “Dances of the World.”

At least 1,000 performers dressed in different international costumes graced the grand finale in the tune of the new upbeat composition, Celebrate Cebu.

Binibining Pilipinas Supranational 2015 Rogelie Catacutan was the lead dancer for this year.

Assessment

Suspended mayor Michael Rama said the difference of this year’s Grand Parade is on the huge number of people. He said he noticed more people this year as it is tagged as the “Mega Sinulog.”

When asked why it became a “Mega Sinulog”, Rama said the event is a prelude of the city’s hosting of the IEC next week. Also, he said this year is an election year.

Rama roamed the city streets yesterday and he saw the spread of the crowd in different areas.

As to the performances of the contingents, Rama said it has been improving every year.

 “It’s really a great pride. It projected how creative the choreographers are. They have incorporated the concept of IEC, too,” Rama said.

Ballesteros said the grand parade this year has been successful with the help of the disciplined crowd.

He said an estimated 30,000 people were present inside the Cebu City Sports Center which is bigger than last year’s.

Minor incidents

During yesterday’s Grand Parade the common reports received by the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council involved lost children and people who needed basic medical services.

The CCDRRMC reported that as of 9:02 p.m. 26 people were reported missing, mostly of them kids aged from 1 to 10. Two senior citizens are also among those missing. They also recorded 188 medical alarms since 6 a.m. most of them involving loss of consciousness and high blood pressure. There was also one vehicular accident and one shooting incident reported.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Transportation Office noted heavy traffic in some major thoroughfares in the city, especially those near the carousel route.

CCTO acting Executive Director Rey Gealon said they did not open the closed roads despite the buildup of vehicles to give way to the large crowd and to avoid any accidents.

However, he assured that enough traffic enforcers were deployed to the affected roads to handle traffic.

 “This (heavy traffic) is anticipated as more vehicles are coming in to attend the Sinulog parties... But all personnel are all over these areas to direct the traffic flow,” the CCTO official said.

Roads identified experiencing heavy traffic during the street parade were M.J. Cuenco Avenue, T. Padilla Street, General Maxilom Avenue, the South Road Properties viaduct, N. Escario Street, B. Rodriguez Street, V. Rama Avenue, A. Soriano Street and J. De Veyra Street, among others. - Jean Marvette A. Demecillo, May B. Miaso and Angelica R. Lilbod-Libod/BRP (FREEMAN)