Banay Labangon wins big in Sinulog sa Barangay

By: Jose Santino S. Bunachita January 08,2017 - 05:56 PM

Barangay Labangon wins the Sinulog sa Barangay 2017 (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON).

(UPDATED) No matter what, the family will always be important.

Armed with this message, synchronized choreography and colorful props, the Banay Labangon of Barangay Labangon wowed both judges and spectators and took home the crown in this year’s Sinulog sa Barangay held at the Cebu City Sports Center yesterday afternoon.

“My mother used to say, when there is hate, there is love. That was how she inspired me to think of this concept. Family is important and whatever happens, there will always be love,” said Angelo Manapsal, the group’s choreographer.

Banay Labangon’s presentation started with a couple fighting in front of their three-year-old daughter Angela. The fight ended with the father leaving the family.

After 15 years, the stage turned into a grand ballroom where Angela is celebrating her debut party. After a couple of dances, the song “Dance With My Father” plays in the background and out of nowhere, her father arrives looking distraught and dirty with ragged clothes and carrying a small carton box.
Angela was happy to see .her father but her mother was not forgiving.

But after some time, the mother forgave the apologetic husband who showed that what was inside his carton box was an image of the Señor Sto. Niño as dancers clad in gray and pink costumes came out to dance and praise the Holy Child Jesus.

Banay Labangon bested eight other contingents including another crowd favorite, the Tribu Lumad Basakanon of Barangay Basak San Nicolas which landed second with P200,000, and bagged the first prize in the Best in Ritual Showdown category where they got a P350,000 cash prize and trophy.
They also topped the Best in Musicality category where they got P30,000 cash prize and ranked second in the Best in Street Dancing category with another P30,000.

Lumad Basakanon

Meanwhile, the Lumad Basakanon dominated the Street Dancing Category where they won first prize with P50,000 as well as the Best in Costume award with another P50,000. They also won second prize in the Best in Musicality category and got P30,000.

As world-class performers, being invited to represent the country in international festivals and winning the national Aliwan Festival several times, the Lumad Basakanon did not fail in captivating the audience with their patented group routines and seamless transitions and choreography.

They opened with a show of the water, fire and earth elements together on stage and proceeded with the emergence of their dancers in dazzling gold and greed body suits to perform their dance routines.

But Banay Labangon edged them out with their concept and execution, according to judges of the Sinulog sa Barangay.
According to Ronnie Mirabuena, chairperson of the board of judges, Banay Labangon excelled in the different elements they were looking for, including concept, set production, music, costume and overall performance.

“What they had as an advantage was that, even if they had a simple concept, a universal concept (about the importance of family), they were able to successfully it into their performance,” he said.

Mirabuena, who is the chief culture and arts officer of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), also lauded the “wonderful performance” of the Lumad Basakanon but pointed out that they lacked in other elements of their presentation like in developing a good concept, which should manifest in their dance, props and overall performance.

Rain fails to stop show

Despite the rain yesterday, the Sinulog sa Barangay pushed through with the parade and street-dancing competition which started at the Cebu Provincial Capitol and ended at the Cebu City Sports Center at 1 p.m.

Even with the wet stage and their soaked costumes, the dancers from all nine contingents still danced their hearts out under the rain.
Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) executive director Ricky Ballesteros lauded the participants for their determination.

He said they were really praying that it would not rain harder in order to ensure the safety of the participants.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña also watched although he arrived halfway through the program with his wife Councilor Margarita Osmeña and their son Miguel, also with his wife Bea and their daughter Anita.

In a speech in the middle of the program, the mayor congratulated all the participating contingents. He said that while this year’s Sinulog may not be bigger, but he said it is “better.”

“Congratulations to all participants. My commitment to you is to see to it that on the Grand Parade (next Sunday), all of you will be able to join,” he said.