(Corrected) CEBU CITY– First-time winner Lanao del Norte and the Masbate contingent were the winners in the Sinulog 2016 Grand Parade in separate categories.
The Kulturang Placereño Masbate contingent emerged as the champion in the Sinulog-based category.
The Land of Beauty and Bounty contingent from Lanao Del Norte won in the Free Interpretation category, beating Tribu Buyoganon of Abuyog, Leyte, last year’s grand winner.
Lumad Basakanon, which was last year’s winner in the street dancing category, dropped to 5th place as Tribu Buyoganon of Abuyog, Leyte, took the the top prize.
Winners in three categories received P1 million each.
Lanao del Norte has been participating in the Sinulog Grand Parade since 2009 but this was the first time to win the top prize. It won fourth place twice, fifth place once and best in costume once.
Nestor Jardin, overall chairman of the panel of judges in the free interpretation category, said Lanao Del Norte won because their performance was “very laudable.”
“They sustained their energy from beginning to end. Production design was exemplary. Their choreography was synchronized with their props,” he said.
Josefina Guillen, chairman for Sinulog-based category, said the decision to give Masbate the top prize was unanimous.
“There were highlights placed on the right places,” she told reporters.
For the street dancing competition, Jardin said Tribu Buyoganon did better this year beating last year’s champion.
Other winners for the free interpretation category were Tribu Katbalaugan (2nd), Buyogan Festival-Tribu Buyoganon (3rd), Tribu Himag-ulaw (4th) and Lumad Basakanon (5th).
The other winners for the Sinulog-based category were Carcar City Division (2nd), Tangub City Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe (3rd), Pundok sa Kabataang Mananayaw sa Danao City (4th), and Municipality of Tuburan (5th).
For the Street dancing category, other winners are Tangub City’s Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe (2nd), Kulturang Placereño (3rd), Carcar City Division (4th), and Lumad Basakanon (5th). SFM