Two out-of-town groups bested 48 other dance contingents in the Sinulog Grand Parade on Sunday.
Tribu Lingganay of Alang-Alang town in Leyte won in the Free Interpretation (FI) category, while Culturang Placereño with Masbate Dance Company of Placer, Masbate, bagged the top prize in the Sinulog-Based (SB) category. Each received P1 million in cash prize.
Nestor Jardin, FI chair of the board of judges, said Tribu Lingganay won first place because its performance was fast paced and unpredictable.
The contingent from Alang-Alang town, Leyte, used loud colors in their props but used neutral colors in their costumes, which helped deliver an outstanding performance, said Jardin, former president and artistic director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Tribu Himag-ulaw, also from Placer, Masbate, emerged second in the FI category followed by Karatong Festival of Dulag town in Leyte, third; Lumad Basakanon of Barangay (village) Basak-San Nicolas in Cebu City, fourth and Toledo National High Vocational School of Cebu, fifth.
Placer’s fresh concept of venerating the Holy Child Jesus was the main factor for grabbing the top prize in the SB category, said head judge, Larry Gabao.
“We saw the emotions of the dancers and how they relate to the entire production,” said Gabao, president of the Philippine Folk Dance Society.
Culturang Placereño’s win spoiled the attempt of Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe from Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, to grab the championship crown for the third straight year.
Sinanduloy, however, emerged second in the SB category followed by the City of Carcar, third; Sta. Catalina town in Negros Oriental, fourth; and Abellana National High School in Cebu City, fifth.
Culturang Placereño also won two special awards: best in costume and best in musicality.
Meantime, Carcar City won first place in the street dancing category for their consistent energy from start to finish, said Danny Marshall, associate artistic director of Douglas Nierras Powerdance.
Like Placer and Alang-Alang, Carcar won P1 million cash prize.
Second place in the street dancing category was Sinanduloy City, while the third place went to Culturang Placereño.
At least 12,000 people gathered at the Cebu City Sport’s Complex on Sunday to watch the final performance of 50 contingents—23 in SB and 27 in FI.
But there were more people outside the complex.
Police said at least three million people were at the city streets either to watch the Grand Parade or join the revelry to celebrate the feast of the Sto. Niño.