Despite short practice time: Carcar wins again

CEBU, Philippines — Carcar City has cemented itself in the winners’ circle in the Sinulog Festival as it placed first in yesterday’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan one year after emerging as champion in the Sinulog Grand Ritual Showdown in 2019.

It beat Talisay City, Lapu-Lapu City, Bogo City, Toledo City, and the Municipality of Ginatilan. It also won Best in Musicality and Best in Costume, and placed second in street dancing.

The contingent performed a Sinulog-based ritual presentation at the Cebu City Sports Center where they told a story of how a town was saved from maleficent beings – the native monster Aswang – by venerating the Santo Niño.

The performance started off with a scene of children playing in a field until the last child to leave was stalked by an Aswang but was able to flee to safety by seeking refuge at a nearby church.

The performance concluded with a huge painting of the Santo Niño’s face blanketing majority of the performers.

Carcar Mayor Mercy Apura said they had less than a month to prepare since they were caught up with the celebration of the Kabkaban Festival in honor of the city’s patron saint, St. Catherine of Alexandria.

"Nalipay gyud ko… bisan sa short time ra sa among pag-practice nakuha gyud nato ang kadaugan. Magpasalamat gyud ko sa tanan nga ni-support, sa tanan na city officials, sa DepEd Division, sa tanan nga choreographers, sa tanan nga Carcaranon (I’m very happy that we won despite the very short time to practice. I thank all the supporters, city officials, the Department of Education, all choreographers, and residents of Carcar)," Apura said.

She disclosed that the city spent over P5M for the presentation, an amount way bigger than their cash prize of P400,000.

Apura said what is important is that Carcar is able to pay homage to the Child Jesus.

Carcar booked an automatic ticket to the Grand Parade on January 19.

Second place winner, Talisay City, took home P350,000 for their presentation that highlighted the Holy Family and the granting of a couple’s desire for a child after constant prayer to the Santo Niño.

Third place winner Lapu-Lapu City took home P300,000 for their Mobile Legends-themed performance.

Bogo City came in fourth with P250,000 and Toledo City placed fifth with P200,000.

Talisay also won best in street dancing and won P70,000 with Carcar placing second with P50,000 and Lapu-Lapu City placing third with P30,000.

Talisay placed second in musicality followed by Lapu-Lapu in third sport, Bogo City in fourth spot, and Toledo City in fifth spot.

Judges based their results on the contingents’ storyline as a basis for their dance presentations and the cohesive use of props, music, and dance to arrive at one creative and thematic direction.

This year’s participants is fewer by four compared to last year’s 10 contingents. JMO (FREEMAN)