Out-of-town champions return to perform

50  – Sinulog dancing contingents

27 – Free interpretation

23  – Sinulog based

31  floats

24 higantes

27 puppeteers

What  veteran spectators in the crowd look forward to in the Sinulog competition are non-Cebu dance troupes, who often provide the surprise element and elaborate performances.

Tribu Sinanduloy of Tangub City, Misamis Occidental  is aiming for its third straight win as grand champion in the Sinulog-based category,which emphasizes the traditional beat and message of the sinulog as a dance of praise to the Sto. Niño.

Their advance party with instrumentalists and house parents arrived Monday.   They are staying at a portion of the city sports center.

A total of 50 dance contingents have signed up this year to compete for a P1 million prize and trophies,  according to executive director Ricky  Ballesteros.  The figure is a little higher than last year’s 46.

“Usually, the judges always look for a fresh and  new concept from the contingents. So those who repeat their styles don’t impress the judges,” he said.

There are 12 out-of-town contingents.

Placer, Masbate sent two contingents, arriving with about 900 dancers and crew at the Cebu City  Central School, where they are housed.

Its Tribu Himag-ulaw has been the champion for two straight years in the Free Interpretation category.

Stretching its goal, Placer town entered a new contingent for the traditional Sinulog-based category.

Another new contestant this year is Liloy town in Zamboanga del Norte here.

From Leyte province come  three contingents for the FI category.

These are Tribu Lingganay in Alang-Alang, Leyte;  the Pasaka Festival of Tanauan, Leyte and the Karatong Festival of Dulag Leyte.

From Mindanao, a new entry from Ipil, Zamboang Sibugay will also be an interesting contingent to watch in the FI category as well as the province of Lanao del Norte.

Both contingents arrived Monday and are staying at the Cebu City Central School.

Cebu City’s homegrown  Lumad Basakanon of Basak San Nicolas, with its distinctive shaggy, backpack costumes and fast choreography is another crowd favorite.

Over the weekend, public school students from Carcar City and Abellana National High School won a slot in the competition  by besting their peers in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan and Dakbayan, an elimination round.

Registration of Sinulog dance participants ended last Monday. Those who want to join in the float, higante and puppeteers categories have until today to be enlisted.

Major TV networks AbS-CBN and GMA 7 said they will have showbiz starts in their floats but they were reminded not to throw promo items at the crowd to avoid chaos.

On Sunday, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma will officiate Mass  at the Cebu City Sports Center at 8 a.m. on Sunday.

The grand parade will follow at 9 a.m.

Because of erratic weather, Ballesteros advised the public to bring  raincoats, umbrellas, and hats.

The Metropolitan Cebu Water District will also put up 17 water stations along the parade route.

Tickets for the grandstand were fast running out but some tickets for P500 seats in the bleachers were still available yesterday. Doris Bongcac and Jhunnex Napallacan