Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan: 5th win for Talisay

CEBU, Philippines — In front of an estimated 20,000 crowd at the Cebu City Sports Center, the contingent from Talisay City Central Elementary School bagged its fifth trophy in all the five years it joined the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan.

Yesterday, the contingent won first in Ritual Showdown (P350,000) and second Street Dancing (P30,000). It was also named Best in Musicality (P50,000) and Best in Costume (P50,000).

The group’s choreographer, Marvey Caño, said the group won in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018. The group skipped the competition in 2016.

Talisay bested contingents from City of Naga Division (Tuyan Central Elementary School), City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy, Tribu Ginatilan, Municipality of Tuburan, Carcar City Division, and Tribu Hinatdan (Palanas, Ginatilan, Cebu).

The judges’ decision was unanimous.

Clear presentation of the concept, proper use of props, choreography, and pleasant costumes propelled Talisay to victory, said Philippine Folk Dance Society President Rodel Fronda, chairman of the board of judges.

“There was a clear development of the story and thought they have lots of costumes and props, they were able to manage the formations and the choreography in developing the whole storyline,” he told reporters.

The dancers changed costumes three times – from white to light brown to pink and light blue. The group also utilized three-dimensional props that complemented the dancers’ performance.

Talisay’s presentation centered on the city’s produce, cacao, and its byproduct, the local chocolate known as tablea. The presentation showcased the planting and harvesting of cacao and consuming the tablea product.

Contest

Cora Agustin, one of the judges, said performances have become better and better every year.

Agustin has been judging the Sinulog for many years.

What contingents need to be reminded of, particularly the choreographers, are the proper handling of props, as well as the props that should be included in the presentation.

Yesterday, Agustin saw faulty manipulation of props and the presence of props that were no longer significant to the whole production.

In previous years, contingents of the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan were divided into two categories – the elementary and secondary divisions.

Last year, Talisay City Division and Municipality of Tuburan were awarded Best in Ritual Showdown for the elementary and secondary divisions, respectively.

Sinulog Foundation Inc. Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros said the foundation decided to combine the two categories this year because of the small number of contingents.

“Supposedly, no contest category na siya kon dili maabot og eight ka contingents but atong gi-compromise nalang maong gi-usa og category ang elementary and secondary and open category na siya karon,” Ballesteros told reporters.

Still, despite only seven groups joining the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, the performances made up for the number, he said.

Ballesteros said there is a need to increase the subsidy the city gives to contingents to encourage more participants next year.

The city gives a P300,000 subsidy and Ballesteros believes it is better to raise the amount to P500,000.

"For me, mas maayo i-increase ang subsidy compared sa prizes kay lisod gyod mag-form og production," he said.

Talisay, for one, spent at least P6.7 million for the whole production, excluding the expenses on the changes and additional elements for next week’s Grand Parade.

What the grouped received in prices, P480,000, is certainly much lower.

“Dili man mo-mind ang mga Gullas mo-spend kay mga deboto man sila ni Sto. Niño gyod. Ang challenge lang namo is ang processes lang sa pag-release sa kwarta kay sa government man gud,” Caño said.

Other winners, prizes

Other winners for Ritual showdown are Carcar City Division (2nd, P300,000); City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy (3rd, P250,000); Municipality of Tuburan, Cebu (4th, P200,000); and Tribu Ginatilan (5th; P150,000).

The winners of Best in Musicality – Talisay City Central Elementary School (1st, P50,000); Carcar City Division (2nd, P30,000); City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy  (3rd, P20,000); Municipality of Tuburan, Cebu (4th, P15,000); and Tribu Hinatdan (5th, P15,000).

The contingent from Tuburan, Cebu won best in street dancing with a cash prize of P50,000 followed by Talisay City Central Elementary School with P30,000; and Carcar City Division with P30,000.

The two non-winning contingents of the ritual showdown received P50,000 each as consolation prize – City of Naga Division (Tuyan Central Elementary School) and Tribu Hinatdan (Palanas, Ginatilan, Cebu). (FREEMAN)