By Rene H. Martel
TANGUB City, Misamis Occidental scored a three-peat, while Lumad Basakanon of Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City made the hometown crowd proud again, in the Sinulog 2007 grand parade Sunday.
Basakanon was the sole contingent the spectators applauded from start to finish. Click on photo to view larger version.
Apparently expecting an exciting performance, the crowd began to cheer when the group was called to perform.
Before that, the people who filled the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) grandstand to the rafters were choosy about whom to cheer for. Except for Basakanon and Lungsod sa Jumbo-Compostela National High School (NHS), the crowd applauded mostly the out-of-town contingents.
Dr. Larry Gabao, chairman of the board of judges for the Sinulog-based category, said the decision to pick Tangub as grand winner was not unanimous. They had to average the rankings the seven of them made.
Choreography and performance accounted for 50 percent of the criteria, and Tangub excelled in that aspect, he added.
The dancers showed their trademark grace and smooth transitions between movements and formation changes. They made the traditional dance—two steps forward, one step back—appear thrilling.
Tangub’s presentation told the story of rural folks going to the city to pay homage to the Sto. Niño, and returning home “with the Niño in their hearts.â€
In the Sinulog-based category, the dance entry must depict Filipino culture and tradition.
Tangub used as a backdrop a tapestry of people planting rice, which later transformed into the old Magallanes St. Featured too were the images of the sun and a huge heart.
Basakanon, on the other hand, was the runaway winner in the free interpretation category.
“This is the first time that the judges were unanimous in their decision. Usually, each judge’s ranking varies,†said Sinulog Foundation Inc. project coordinator Dolly Suzara. Click on photos to view larger versions.
In this category, participants were advised to emphasize the concept of dance-as-prayer.
They, however, were given the freedom to come up with their own concept, based on their own interpretation of what is relevant to the Sinulog.
“They were really outstanding. The presentation was almost perfect,†Gabao said.
Smart props
For that, Basakanon takes home the P500,000 prize, the same amount Tangub is getting. Tangub picked up another P500,000 for the best in street-dancing award.
The two contingents’ choreographers will get P30,000 each.
Basakanon also won an extra P150,000 for the best in costume prize in its category (P100,000) and the best in musicality (P50,000) award.
Still donning the Yakan-inspired costumes that have already become the group’s brand, Basakanon used deep brown vests as accents for the male dancers.
The female dancers also held baskets, since their story was about thanking the Niño for a good harvest and a bountiful catch.
Swaying with their arms interlocked, a Sto. Niño image held aloft amid a sea of bobbing heads, the dancers wowed the crowd, who cheered all throughout their performance.
Basakanon bowed out of contention last year after the judges deducted 20 points from its score for a rule violation. It had used wheels for its carabao props.
On Sunday, however, it was Lungsod sa Jumbo-Compostela that was slapped with the penalty.
Penalty
Gabao said the group used canned or recorded music, and left behind several props after performing onstage, when they were supposed to bring these along the carousel route.
Gabao said that Compostela, who was second to Tangub in the past two years, “could have placed better†but settled for fifth place in the Sinulog-based category because of the deduction.
Tribu Mazda-Camp Lapulapu National High School (Day) trailed Tangub; followed by Tribu Lasangnon of Alcoy town’s Siloy festival; and Bayawan City, Negros Occidental’s Tawo-tawo festival at fourth place.
After last year’s fourth place finish, Camp Lapulapu achieved a miracle of its own with its concept of “miracles do happen.â€
Using Maria Clara outfits, with the men wearing red see-through vests, Camp Lapulapu used what one judge said were elegant costumes and “an artistically mature level of performance.â€
Repeat
“You can see the discipline of all the members. They moved as one, the movements were well-coordinated, and they were able to effectively present the concept,†said one judge when it won the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan high school category the other week.
The contingent also used big, yellow candles as backdrops, white umbrellas and hoops adorned with flowers.
For their troubles, second-place winners will get P300,000; third, P200,000; fourth, P150,000; and fifth, P100,000.
Choreographers will receive P20,000 for a second-place finish; third, P15,000; fourth, P10,000; and fifth, P5,000.
Winners will perform again this afternoon at the 2 p.m. awarding ceremony, still at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Congratulations to Lumad Basakanon, you made us proud to be Cebuanos. After winning the Aliwan Festival last year and being Denied the Sinulog plum also last year, I salute you for the very magical performance. I was at the Abellana on Sunday and it thrilled me that all people cheered from start to finish for our own contingent.
More power.
Very nice festival and site,I just want to correct Tawo tawo Festival in Bayawan City is in Oriental Negros and not Negros Occidental. When we make a record many of the national media mistaken our province to Negros Occidental,including the President herself that’s why our Governor George P. Arnaiz, change our Province name to Oriental Negros. So i am encouraging you to visit Oriental Negros to know better, thank you>
wow!congrats to lumad basakanon,your perfomance is perfect!goodjob!!!
To all Tangubanon, Congratulation……you made the very best
we are very proud to all of you….
Congratulations to Lungsod Jumbo sa Compostela National High School, you made as proud for all tourist, after winning a 5th place this year. Your all performance is so beautiful i mean all your concepts that you used during the presentation is so very magical.. and all of us we proud for your best. BUt when we are made to decide the judging your group is a champion. You have 100% good performance. Tangub is not the right to get the title, the comment i post is to inform that the judges are not focusing what the cebuanos story. Even you are using a recorded music (except for the lefting of props before on stage) its part of cebuanos before coz during the time we used as a symbolic metal or music to dance with a Sinulog..
Try to read the penalty!
(On Sunday, however, it was Lungsod sa Jumbo-Compostela that was slapped with the penalty. Gabao said the group used canned or recorded music, and left behind several props after performing onstage, when they were supposed to bring these along the carousel route.
Gabao said that Compostela, who was second to Tangub in the past two years, “could have placed better†but settled for fifth place in the Sinulog-based category because of the deduction.)
Question:
1. Try to think ?
bigyan nyo nga ako ng list sa mga nanalo sa free interpretation category sa sinulog 2007
congrats lumad hehehe ngayun naman aliwan 2007 pakyawin niyo na
It’s supposed to be the 4th consecutive year that Lumad Basakanon the champion if they made it to the top of last year’s Sinulog festival. Thou for me, performance-wise, they are still the champion last year in Asia’s grandest street festival. Congratulations to my hometown’s best performers!
-from a very proud Basakanon,
all the way from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Giovanni B. Abos
congratulation to all participants, keep going on practicing our
native way of celebrating the fiesta by dancing on the streets in
cebu city. “lots of fun” and smiles even I´m far away from home.
Its a nice feelin to see you all participants on the video clips.
Keep the spirits live in whole Cebu. ” More Power “
congratulation to all participants, keep going on practicing our
native way of celebrating the fiesta by dancing on the streets in
cebu city. “lots of fun” and smiles even I´m far away from home.
Its a nice feelin to see you all participants on the video clips.
Keep the spirits live in whole Cebu. ” More Power “
thanks to all the people who joined the amazing street show which made a single filipino proud of their very own country.CONGRATULATIONS to LUMAD BASAKANON !!!GO MAKE OUR COUNTRY BE KNOWN ALL OVER THE WORLD!!MILLION THANKS TO THE ORGANIZERS OF THIS SINULOG SHOW!!!Wish i can join you guys!!!
i’m just happy that i’m a part of LUMAD BASAKANON.
thank you Señor Sto. Niño for the opportunity, and for continually watching over Cebu City.
hi to Giovanni B. Abos. naa na diay ka diha sa KSA? i’m planning to join the higante and puppet competition next year’s sinulog.
ayaw lang sag uli ana nga season aron makuhaan sad ang akong kontra. he he he he.
basakanon wala na moy lain steping na hibaw-an cge man lang gud mo og balik lood na kaayu dili mo angayan maka daog yuksss
@ jake. are you dancer/supporter of tribu jumbo? i do think you guys did a good job but please never say that we, the Sinanduloy cultural troupe of Tangub City do not have the right to get the title. Your dance was great but there could only be one winner.
being part of the group that brought pride and fame to all the cebuanos…….it was such an experience that i’ve enjoyed and i will always cherish for the rest of my life….VIVA to your holy name, Oh Sto. NiÑo!!!
basakanon was the best of all contingent who join the sinulog 2008 no one can break the record of lumad basakanon
lumad basakanon was the most beautiful contingent of all their dance was so very nice especially their costumes and props and also the choreography pang international talaga ang kanilang performance