2 winning schools, 1 choreographer

Special education teacher Rolly Layola  turned emotional  when results of the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan were announced last Sunday.

The two contingents whose dance presentations he helped choreograph bagged the top prizes.

Don Vicente Rama Day and Night Memorial National High School (MNHS) and City Central Elementary School won the grand prize in their respective divisions.

They both get the privilege of performing in the  Sinulog Grand Parade on Sunday.

Both contingents also bagged the Best in Costume award. City Central Elementary School won the Street dancing and Musicality special awards.

“I was not expecting [to win]. Yes, I did my best, but other schools were  more prepared.  I, on the other hand, nagkalisod (struggled), because I had no more time, and the schools had no budget,” Layola, 40, said.

Layola, a special education teacher at the Zapatera National High School in Cebu City, has been choreographing Sinulog dances for school contingents  in the past 10 years.

He didn’t plan to handle two  public schools  during the youth parade of the  Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan last Sunday.

Layola first agreed to be the  choreographer for  the Don Vicente Rama MNHS’s contingent. They began practicing in September.

Two months later, a friend from City Central begged for his help because they only had one month  to the Sinulog and still didn’t  have a choreographer.

Layola hesitated.

“At first, I thought that I really could not handle two contingents. But I  took it all in, and told myself that this is for Sto. Niño, and this is for the children,” he recalled.

In the morning, Layola attended to his classes at the Zapatera National High School.

Once his work was done, he would rush to the City Central along Natalio Bacalso Avenue for a two-hour afternoon practice with over 100 pupils from Grades 3 to 6,  working with  his co-choreographer Jonas Borbon.

Then he would head to Don Vicente Rama MNHS in barangay Basak Pardo in the evening to practice with  high school students. He would then leave them with two co-choreographers to polish their routines.

During the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan on Jan. 10, Layola’s anxiety doubled.

“On that day, I was really scared. I felt we were not ready because we had a lot of things to do. When it was announced that we won, I could not stop myself from crying,” he said.

Each contingent won the  cash prize of P300,000 for first place.

A separate P60,000 prize went to the choreographer for both groups.

“The biggest challenge when choreographing Sinulog dances is the expenses. The prize money cannot cover the actual  expenses, he explained.

“This year, mag minilyones na among gasto kada contingent, labi kay wala mi sponsors (We spend almost P1 million for each contingent because we don’t have private  sponsors),” Layola explained.

A choreographer’s role extends beyond creating the dance routine and polishing the performances.

He or she also has to look for costume designers, props men and  funding.

Layola  said he convinced supporters to  pawn their jewelry and valuables  just to pool  funds to pay for the costumes.

Rehearsals continue in the afternoons and evenings with the students, as Layola adds new routines for  Sunday’s  Sinulog Grand Parade.

This time, the two schools he handles will be competing against more  than 40 contingents.

“I am excited for the students. This will be their first time to experience this. For now, I am not pressuring them to compete against the professionals, but I will push them to do their best and enjoy the experience,” Layola said.

“Working your heart  out for two contingents is a very heartwarming, humbling  experience.  It made me remember why I decided to choreograph in the first place—to give praise to the Sto. Niño, a lesson  I will take as I continue to choreograph more dances for Him,” he said.

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