After Sinulog, Lumad Basakanon eyes Aliwan Fiesta in Manila

LUMAD Basakanon may have landed second place in Sunday’s Sinulog grand parade but Basak San Nicolas barangay captain George Rama said he would make sure that his group would be able to outshine Tribu Lingayan of Alang Alang, Leyte when they face each other in the Aliwan Fiesta to be held in Manila in April.

Rama said that they wrote Aliwan organizers early this month to inquire if the Basakanons would already qualify for the competition after winning three consecutive championships in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

The group was elevated to the Hall of Fame and weren’t allowed to join the competition.

“They told us that we would qualify since it had been two years that we didn’t join the festival,” he said in Bisaya.

Rama said that his contingent would have a better chance of winning the championship crown in the Aliwan where contingents were judged on how well they executed their choreography and not on how colorful their props were.

Maximar Custodio, the choreographer for Alang Alang, Leyte, said that the team was also considering joining the Aliwan festival after grabbing this year’s championship in the Sinulog Free Interpretation category and taking home the P1 million cash prize.

But even if their plans for the Aliwan wouldn’t push through, Custodio said, he’s already happy with what his 96 dancers and 38 propsmen had achieved.

“Ang winning elements gyud sa among performance kay ang production design and colors,” he said referring to their flower props.

Randy Navarro, one of the choreographers for Lumad Basakanon said their 2nd place win was sort of a comeback after not landing in the top five spots in 2012.

They won a total of P1 million from winning second place in the FI – P500,000; 3rd place in the street dancing competition – P300,000; best in musicality for the FI – P100,000; and best in costume for the FI – P100, 000.

Choreographer Dennis Navarro said they did away with the Basakanons’ pintanos look this year to try new things for their contingent.

The Basakanons used the “Si Malakas at si Maganda” theme in their upbeat dance. From being pintados in their previous Sinulog dances, Basakanons were dressed as birds in this year’s dance./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac