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