Sinulog Champs: Placer (SB), Alang-Alang (FI) Masbate; Leyte win P1M prizes

By Jessica Ann R. Pareja and AJ De La Torre (The Freeman)  
 
CEBU, Philippines - Culturang Placereño of Placer, Masbate and Tribu Lingganay of Alang-alang, Leyte were declared grand champions of Sinulog 2012 for the Sinulog Based and Free Interpretation categories respectively.

Both also bagged the best in costume and best in musicality special awards in their respective categories.

Last year’s winners, the Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe of Tangub City, Misamis Occidental and Tribu Himag-ulaw of Placer, Masbate both finished second this year.

Third to fifth place in the Sinulog Based category were City of Carcar; Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental; and Abellana National School.

Third to fifth in the Free Interpretation category went to Karatong Festival of Dulag, Leyte; Lumad Basakanon of Cebu City; and Toledo National High Vocational School.

The City of Carcar was also adjudged as champion in the street dancing category while the second and third placers were Tangub City and Culturang Placereño.

Mayor’s Dream

Mayor Joshur Lanete of Placer, Masbate dreamed that they should have two entries this year.
It turned out to be some sort of premonition.

Lanete said that they joined the Sinulog Based category this year apart from their Free Interpretation entry is because of a dream on the eve of the Sinulog Grand Parade last year where he saw himself overseeing the practice of their contingent for the Sinulog-based category which recurred for several times.

Dr. Larry Gabao, chairman of the board of judges for the SB category said, said it was a unanimous decision of the judges to proclaim Culturang Placereño the grand winner because the group showed the judges a fresh idea on how to venerate the Santo Niño.

 “Also, they have a very consistent presentation from the beginning to the last point,” Gabao said.
Commenting on why Tangub City failed to defend the crown it has been holding on for eight years, Gabao said Tangub failed to establish the relevance of the big ship it made as a prop.

“We did not see the relevance of the ship. The prop is very huge but it just passed,” Gabao said.

Beginner’s Luck

Nestor Jardin, chairman of the board of judges for the Free Interpretation category, said that Tribu Lingganay’s performance was fresh and innovative, different from what they have witnessed with other contingents.

He said Tribu Ligganay of Alang-alang, Leyte stood out because of its costume and props that complement each other.

“It is something new. We like the fact that it is fast pace, exciting and very unpredictable,” Jardin said.

“We also like the production design. The colors of the props are very comprehensive, all are loud colors, yet somehow the whole production design worked well. The props are superbly handled,” he added.

Tribu Lingganay is one of first-time participants.

Jardin said Tribu Himag-ulaw of Placer, Masbate also had a commendable presentation, but the judges were not impressed by the concept which for them is not very much like a Filipino concept but an African production. “Because we don’t have giraffes here,” Jardin said.

Fresh Ideas

Ricky Ballesteros, Executive Director of the Sinulog Foundation Inc., said last year’s standard was surpassed anew by the contingents and many have come up with fresh ideas.

Ballesteros also noted a smoother flow of the presentation at the grandstand and in the streets which he attributed to the good weather and the discipline of the revelers.

Many also liked the grand finale because of its elegance.

Prizes

The grand champions in both Sinulog-Based and Free Interpretation categories each will receive P1 million while the rest of the top five will receive P500,000 for the second place, P300,000 for the third place, P200,000 for the fourth place and P100,000 for the fifth place.

The awarding will be held this afternoon at the Cebu City Sports Center where winners will also do a repeat performance.

The choreographers of the top five winners would be receiving P50,000 for the champion, P30,000 for the second placer, P20,000 for the third placer, P15,000 for the fourth placer and P10,000 for the fifth placer.

The champion in the street dance category will also receive P1 million while the second and third placers will receive P500,000 and P300,000 respectively.

Grand Finale

A grand finale that showcased Cebu as a City of Culture ended the grand parade.
The grand production featured a 30-minute presentation that cost organizers around P2.5M.
Dancers from different schools represented various ASEAN countries and presented their national dances.

The new song entitled “Welcome to Cebu” composed by Cebuano Gani Villarojo was also featured.
 Different industries were also well-represented like the furniture industry showing creations of world-renowned furniture artist Kenneth Cobonpue.

Creations of Cebuano fashion designers were also featured as well as the accessories industry and the graphic and visual arts industry.

Center for pop singers, Sinulog Idol winners, dancesport athletes and gymnasts were also part of the grand finale. —/NLQ THE FREEMAN