Leyte’s Tribu Buyogan vows to give a grand comeback performance

After missing out on Sinulog for two years, Tribu Buyogan of Leyte’s Abuyog town promises a grand comeback as the “dancing bees” will gracefully carry a climate change-focused message.

Although “very pressured,” choreographer Ramero Palabrica said the group is resolved to give their all to wow the crowd.

“Expect something amazing wih fabulous opening and grand closing,” he said, as they arrived at the City Central School on Tuesday night, after a 10-hour land and sea trip.

Tribu Buyogan’s comeback performance is centered on the effect of climate change not only to bees but to people and other living things as well.

“We want to encourage the spectators to save the environment from climate change, because it’s not just about the bees but, most importantly, the future of humanity,” he said.

Palabrica said the performance will tell about the bees’ life cylce and how they interact with other living things, especially flowers.

Bees or locally called “buyog,” which the Abuyog town is known for, are responsible for pollination, a natural process needed in the propagation of fruit-bearing plants and trees in the wild.

When they are totally wiped out due to human-induced climate change that prolongs dry season and intensifies storms, agriculture production would collapse, causing food insecurity.

“In the United States, extreme heat triggered wild forest fires, killing many bees,” he said.

Abuyog town Mayor Lemuel Gin Traya said the municipal government alloted P10 million to fund the 500-member group, which includes dancers, props personnel, dance masters, medics and other support staff.

Traya added that the lack of budget for the competition was their reason of not joining last year’s Sinulog.

“This time we allocated a budget from our IRA (internal revenue allotment) as we really want to offer our thanksgiving to Sto. Niño to show our wholehearted devotion,” the devotee mayor added.

Palabrica said contingent members come from the winning troupe in the town’s Buyogan Festival last August. They started practicing for this year’s Sinulog as early as November.

“From their houses, it took our members two hours to get to the practice area. For them to return safe and sound, the local government drove them door-to-door,” he said.

Tribu Buyogan has gained popularity because of its colorful, giant flower props and frenetic bee mascot-wearing performers.

But while they began preparing the props in December, some of which are not done yet due to frequent weather disturbances that dumped rains in the calamity-prone Leyte, a province no stranger to the increasingly harsh impacts of climate change.

“We’ll be finishing them all the props in here,” he said.

As they dance on Sinulog’s grand day, Palabrica said they will reflect on the times they were tried and tested when their rehearsals had been affected by the occurrence of landslides and flashfloods in their town.

“At the end of the presentation, you will see how will we praise the Sto. Niño despite all the obstacles and difficulties we had experienced in our place,” Palabrica said.

In 2015, Tribu Buyogan’s concept was about the conflict among bees and their predators like frogs and praying mantis, for which they bagged the grand prize in the free interpretation category.

The group was also named Best in Musicality and ranked fourth in the Best in Street Dance.

It was also the group’s comeback since the last time they joined Sinulog Grand Parade in 2011 and won second.