THEY wore American inspired costumes and they showed their glamor in executing basic dance steps of the Panagtagbo and mixed it with steps from an American influenced folk dance.
The ladies wore black and white silk and lacy dresses while the boys wore black shirts with white collar.
The group also used tarpaulins showing the delicacies of Mandaue like bibingka were used as a backdrop together with some landmarks like the Saint Joseph National Shrine. Their performance, costumes, and props, helped the Cluster 4 contingent to get the Panagtagbo judges’ nod in the first Panagtagbo festival competiton.
CLUSTER 4
Cluster 4, who is made up of performers from barangays Opao, Cambaro, Umapad and Alang-alang, were the last perform during the showdown at the City Hall grounds.
Their choreographer, June Oliver Figueroa, a teacher at Mandaue City Science high school, said that the American folkdance of ‘Birdenia’ steps were used mixed with local folk dance and basic steps of Panagtagbo.
Figueroa was the choreographer of the group who launched last year’s Panagtagbo dance steps.
Cluster 2, which is composed of dancers from barangays Centro, Guizo and Looc; was the first runner up while Cluster 3 from barangays Maguikay, Banilad, Bakilid, Cabancalan, and Casuntingan was the second runner up.
Cluster 3 however was adjudged the best street dancing contingent while the Best Andas went to barangay Paknaan.
BEST CHOREOGRAPHER
Cluster 1’s choreographer Jefferson Gitgano was recognized as the competition’s best choreographer.
Gitgano was the choreographer of the contingent in Haladaya festival in Daan Bantayan which were the champions in 2008 and 2009.
Andas means presentation of the Holy Family.
Each of the seven contingents yesterday had common props of flowers and showed the three images of Sto. Nino, Mary and Saint Joseph.
Mayor Jonas Cortes who awarded the winning group told reporters that he hopes that the Panagtagbo will get bigger. He will also suggest to the Taga Mandaue Inc. (TMI) to add more contingents next year.
Cortes said that the Panagtagbo festival is one way of inspiring every family in Mandaue the “Sagrada Pamilya” which gives unity.
He added that the different barangays in Mandaue which were clustered showed unity.
“Faith is something we cannot touch nor feel but something we can feel in our hearts,” Cortes saying, “This event is a collective effort which unites family and every barangay”.
The event closed with a 10-minute fireworks display./Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos