cebu living

Going into the specifics of the Sto. Niño’s role in the everyday Cebuano life earned for Barangay Labangon the top prize in Sunday’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan secondary division.

Lively dance steps and an engaging and skillful performance did the same for Barangay Mabolo in the elementary level of the same competition.

Labangon’s presentation featured a wedding with the newlyweds releasing doves in keeping with tradition and accompanied by their retinue of relatives that included a crying grandmother.

A celebration of union and family tradition, with the Sto. Niño as guide, earned Labangon the high school division top prize in Sunday’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan.

The couple opened a gift box that contained an image of the Sto. Niño whom they worshipped and paid tribute to from then on. The Sto. Niño blessed the couple and it continues to play a central role in the couple’s lives including in the baptism of their first child.

Labangon, whose dancers wore Filipinia costumes and did the traditional Sinulog steps, was also picked Best in Costume. The women in the dance alternately carried hoops of red flowers and bunches of yellow ones while the men held Spanish lamplights on pillars.

Angelo Manapsal, Labangon choreographer, said he incorporated the old concept of the Sto. Niño with the new themes of family tradition and cultural values. He believes this is what won them the top prize in the competition.

Labangon’s win earned for Manapsal the rare feat of back-to-back triumphs in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan and Lalawigan contests. Manapsal was also the choreographer for Carmen town, which topped Saturday’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan secondary division.

Mabolo performers show the "intensity and high level of performance" that earned for them the grand prize in Sunday’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan elementary division.

In the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan elementary division, Mabolo performers were garbed in traditional farming costumes in grey, maroon, and gold colors with large shallow rice winnowing baskets on their backs.

Their dance portrayed worship and veneration of the Sto. Niño over a good harvest. Mabolo performers bested nine other contingents in the elementary division with their “intensity and skillful performance.”

Placing second in the elementary division was Tribu Guardo of Barangay Sambag 1, which was also picked Best in Costume. At third place was Lahug Elementary School followed by Zapatera at fourth and Pasil Elementary School at fifth.

Other winners in the secondary level of the competition are: Tribu Kamayo of the Abellana National High School at second place; Tribu Mag-uuma of Barangay T. Padilla at third place; Barangay Apas SK, represented by Camp Lapulapu National High School,at fourth place; Barangay Basak Pardo in fifth place.

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