After eight years of joining the Sinulog, the Lanao del Norte contingent finally bags the championship. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
Students of Bansarvil National High School prayed for a spot among the top 5 winners of the Sinulog Grand Parade.
The announcement that they won left them speechless, said 8th grader Sulpicio Songu-ad, Jr.
The Bansarvil students comprise the Land of Beauty and Bounty contingent of Lanao del Norte, which won 1st place in the Free Interpretation category of the Sinulog ritual showdown.
“Nag-expect mi masulod sa top 5. Pero wala namo gina-expect nga ma-champion (We were expecting to be in the top 5 but not the champion),” Songu-ad said.
Lanao has been joining the Sinulog competition for the past eight years, but it bagged the first prize only last Sunday.
This was also the first time the Bansarvil students represented their province.
The contingent included 96 dancers and 200 props men.
Kulturang Placereño from Placer, Masbate is no stranger to victory. The contingent won for the third consecutive year 1st place in the Sinulog-based category.
The group’s choreographer, Victor Hao Cuenco, said it’s still an overwhelming feeling.
He said joining the Sinulog Grand Parade is their way of paying homage to Señor Sto. Niño. Winning the competition is just a bonus.
The journey was not easy, he said, especially since the dancers were mostly volunteers.
“Some are out-of-school youth, some are studying. Just as you’re done teaching them the routine, they stop. Imagine?” he said.
Cuenco said they had to hire some alumni of the UC dance troupe to fill in the void.
“If you have the heart and passion, you will not quit,” he added.