Mardi gras today w/out last year's champion

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  — The street dancing competition and mardi gras parade for the conclusion of the month-long Bohol Sandugo 2012 celebration take place today, Sunday (July 29).

Rhythm of the music, colorful costumes and lively dances from five contingents will fill the 3-kilometer parade, but without the earlier announced 6th delegation, Carmen town, which was last year’s mardi gras champion.

In an interview, Carmen Mayor Conchita “Che” de los Reyes said her group of dancers will defer its participation this year “to give chance to others.”

The move of Carmen not to take part in this year’s street dance race would give better prospects for the title to Catigbian town (represented by Immaculate Mary Academy) and Tagbilaran City’s Holy Name University, last year’s second and third runners-up, respectively.

Other mardi gras crown hopefuls this year are the Bohol Island State University of Candijay town and the local government units of Ubay and Garcia-Hernandez.

Other top-notch contingents of Dauis and Maribojoc towns, Dr. Cecilio Putong High School, Tagbilaran City High School, Baclayon High School and Manga High School, who actively joined in 2011, will not be seen today also.

Asked why the few competitors this year, the Bohol Sandugo Foundation street dance organizers said that a lot of supposedly contingents who used to take part declined because of the preparation for the new K to 12-curriculum. Most of the participants are school students or teachers, they said.

The foundation organizers said that the fund assistance provided for practice and incidental expenses had been returned by the delegations that excused themselves from participation this year.

Street dancing and reenactment of the Blood Compact were organized sometime in the 1980s to pay tribute to native chieftain Datu Sikatuna and Spanish general Miguel Lopez de Legaspi who forged the first recorded treaty of friendship or “Sandugo” in the late 1500s.

Among those invited to grace the 2012 Sandugo Festival are Senator Chiz Escudero, as guest of honor. TV and movie personalities namely Agot Isidro, Miss World-Philippines Anna Maris Igpit, Benjie Paras, Raymund Bagatsing, Jean Garcia, Alden Richards, Lucho Ayala and comedians Moymoy and Palaboy.

Miss Bohol Sandugo 2012 Idy Caseñas Cagas and her royal court are expected to be on the float for the grand parade. (FREEMAN)