Bohol Island State University is Sandugo Festival champ

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines – Bohol Island State University-Bilar campus outperformed seven other contingents to emerge champion in this year’s Sandugo Festival streetdancing and showdown on Sunday, taking home P300,000 cash prize and trophy.

The Tagbilaran City contingent finished first runner-up with the prize of P250,000 and trophy, while the Municipality of Baclayon placed second runner-up with P200,000 prize and trophy.

Minor awards with P10,000 cash prize each were given to contingents from Mabini town, as the most disciplined group, Anda as most colorful, Catigbian as most symbolic performance, Ubay as most unique, and Camayaan National High School of Loboc as most authentic.

Certificates of recognition were also conferred on Catigbian contingent for its successive participation in the past 10 years of the festival, and Bohol Island State University for successive participation for three years since 2012:  BISU-Calape was champion in 2014, BISU-Clarin in 2013 and BISU-Candijay in 2012

Governor Edgar Chatto said the contingent choreographers underwent workshops to reorient them on original Bohol dances that would depict the message of Sandugo or the historical blood compact between Rajah Sikatuna and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.

It was also made sure that the contingents would do away with the steps used in other festivals, such as the Sinulog, and perform Boholano steps, according to Marianito Luspo, chairperson of Sandugo Festival 2015.

During the opening program, provincial and local officials, together with known Bohol personalities reenacted the blood compact, in which Chatto portrayed Rajah Sikatuna and Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap portrayed Legazpi.