Mabolo, Apas schools win
Colors of the jungle and performers in blue outfits that resemble humanoids from the sci-fi movie Avatar helped the Mabolo Elementary School contingent bag first place in the elementary division of the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan.
Mabolo bested five other contingents in the elementary category and also won Best in Musicality at the competition held at the Cebu City Sports Complex yesterday.
Apas National High School earned the best contingent title in the secondary division after they showcased Cebu’s trademark products and lifestyle as their theme.
The school won over seven other contingents and also bagged the Best in Costume award. (See table for complete winners.)
cheers
The Mabolo Elementary school contingent with their blue-skinned humanoid costumes and butterfly and leaf props added to the group’s visual appeal.
The group got the loudest cheers from the audience.
“Daog na! Daog na! Daog na! (Winner! Winner! Winner!) ,” shouted the audience after Mabolo’s performance.
The Apas contingent got the same appreciative cheers from the crowd.
trademark
Apas showcased Cebu’ s g dried mangoes, lechon, the tartanilla, otap, and guitars.
They also flashed the front page of yesterday’s issue of Cebu Daily News.
The dancers donned white dresses accented by gold lace. They were also among the contingents that got the loudest cheers from the crowd.
Their use of tarpaulin backdrops was an eye-catching choice.
“I think Apas stood out in terms of concept and presentation because the group showed the lifestyle of Cebuanos. It was not just a production, but it was a showcase of what the real spirit of the Sinulog is. The whole production was flawless,” said Josefina Guillen, one of the judges and the present Dance Division Director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
no 4-peat
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the winners in the competition earned the right to perform in Sunday’s Sinulog Grand Parade.
Last year’s champion in the secondary division, Abellana National School , didn’t make a 4-peat win this year and landed in fourth place.
“Let’s just say that they (Abellana National School) performed very well. They projected the theme very well. But there are other groups that performed better in term of choreography, props and other production elements. Others were just better this time than Abellana,” Guillen said.
Abellana’s choreographer Walter Betito, whose leg was amputated years ago after an illness, made a cameo appearance in the contingent’s performance.
He played the role of a disabled devotee of the Sto. Niño.
family
Guilllen praised the school’s performance.
“Abellana’s was very touching. They presented the family and that makes it really grounded in our culture and tradition. And it is not only about the choreographer Walter being there, he represented the less privileged Filipinos,” said Guillen.
She commended Abellana dancers for being well focused in executing their roles on stage unlike other groups where the props distracted some of the dancers. /Correspondent Jose S. Bunachita with reports from USJ-R Intern Michelle Joy L. Padayhag and Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan
