Despite the lack of resources, the Abellana National High School made it three in a row after they were chosen as this year’s Sinulog sa Kabataan-Dakbayan secondary division champion.
“I was shaking and I still am. We made it and I can’t be more thankful to the team and their parents. We had been practicing since Christmas break and I would like to thank the parents for letting their children be with us in those times which was supposed to be family time but they understood us and now it all paid off,” said Walter Betito, the choreographer of the Abellana National High School contingent.
Before the competition, Betito said he was discouraged and planned not to join next year’s event because of inadequate financial resources.
“I was motivated not to join kay wala’y budget. Lisod kaayo ipangita. Maka stress,” said Betito and laughed.
He found a way to fund the preparations which reached P800,000.
“Mokabat sa P300, 000 for props alone and P180, 000 sa costumes,” said Betito.
He said the Sinulog Foundation Inc. gave P100,000 subsidy to the group and the rest was taken on account.
The win, however, changed Betito’s decision and he planned to join again in next year’s competition.
“Of course, daghan mo-offer nga mga kompaniya. Advantage man gyud na mag sige ka’g kadaug kay mabantayan na ka sa mga sponsors kong angay ba gyud kang sponsoran,” he said.
He thanked the Senyor Sto. Nino that they could be able to pay their debts.
The theme of the ANS performance was the mass wedding.
“We wanted to emphasize the value of the family, the marriage is the beginning of it and we wanted to send a message on the importance of marriage especially with the “social issue about the RH bill.”
The elaborate white gowns of the female dancers and the white barong of the males flooded the stage with white looking dancing snowflakes as seen from the grandstand.
“We have 100 dancers. But including the crew and the musicians, we are 350 people altogether. That’s a lot of people and it’s needless to say that our main problem is the budget. But somehow we are getting by,” Betito said.
Their theme last year was Nativity.
“Bag-o gyud and lahi gyud siya nga (It’s a new) concept,” Betito added.
When Cebu Daily News asked Betito what’s their edge among the other contenders, he said, “our uniqueness is the movement.”
“Ang lihok sa among mga bata kay limpyo compared to others. Klaro ang amo’ng message. Ang amo’ng theme (and) among concept mas klaro,” he said.
In the elementary division, the Bulacao Community School was chosen as the grand champion.
“Happy gud sobra sobra kay wa mi ga-expect nga madaug mi. Nagsugod mi November gyud,” Rolly Layola, the contingent’s choreographer said.
Just like the Abellana High School contigent, their “number one problem is financial.”
Their budget was also taken from solicitations.
“Naa pud nidonate sa barangay bulacao community,” he added.
The group said that they won because of persistence (paningkamot).
Ricky Ballesteros, Sinulog Foundation Inc. executive director, said the Sinulog-based dance is a very hard discipline.
He said every move has to follow the strict guidelines prescribed by the foundation.
“I am even glad that most of the Cebuano contingents are joining in the Sinulog base. That is something and we can be sure that the Sinulog dance tradition lives on,” Ballesteros said. /Tweeny Malinao Correspondent With Correspondent Edison A. Delos Angeles