RAIN did not spare yesterday’s Sinulog grand parade, but it did not stop Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe from capturing its second straight crown in the Sinulog-based (SB) category.
Tribu Himag-ulaw also didn’t let the rain keep it from winning the free interpretation (FI) category, after it failed to do that the first time it joined last year.
Sinanduloy of Tangub City, Misamis Occidental won for the second straight year with innovations in its presentation and clear demonstration that the dancers “venerated” the Sto. Niño.
It had failed to win a fourth straight grand prize in 2008, but is starting another streak with its latest back-to-back wins.
“Tangub maintained the traditional presentation…. The many dancers’ execution of the ritual of veneration is very much present,” said Dr. Larry Gabao, chairman of the five-person board of judges.
He said that though the contingent may have been limited by the Sinulog steps, it was able to present something new.
“In some patterns of the choreography there were changes in the way they presented their concept,” said Gabao, president of the Philippine Folk Dance Society.
After its backdrop of wooden panels showing a bamboo groove parted, Sinanduloy started, its dancers hidden in the middle of a ricefield, with a few acting as scarecrows.
As they prayed for a good harvest, dancers flipped their large illustrations of rice stalks, to show a golden field.
Tangub City Mayor Jennifer Wee Tan said she was nervous because there were other strong contenders in the field of 22 contingents in their category.
“We just left the results up to the Sto. Niño. The children gave it their all,” Tan said.
Tangub’s choreographer Emilio “Jojen” Pascual is among those the Sinulog Foundation Inc. will honor today as one of the multi-awarded choreographers of the competition. (more)
