Abellana, Banilad win Sinulog sa Kabataan

Rainfall and cold Siberian winds carried by the amihan (northeast monsoon) did not prevent the Sinulog sa Kabataan for schools in Cebu City from pushing through at the Cebu Sports Center.

Heavy rains prompted organizers to cancel the parade of contingents for yesterday’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan, but the show went on inside the Cebu City Sports Complex where the Abellana National School (ANS) regained its hold over the championship after finishing fourth last year.

The Abellana National School (ANS) edged out four other contingents in the secondary category as they wowed judges and a crowd of about 25,000 to reclaim the top spot that they held for three years before losing in 2013.

“This is our comeback. Last year we had a lot of problems but now everyone has been helping us,” choreographer Walter Betito said. Betito said the Abellana National School contingent spent over P1 million but the first prize is only P300,000.

Banilad Elementary School dominated the elementary division, emerging as champion and bagging awards for best in musicality and best in costume.

Abellana’s dance highlighted how foreign countries joined to help the Philippines after supertyphoon Yolanda/Haiyan killed thousands in November 8.

Erwin Escorial, one of the school’s choreographers, said they feel proud because it was their first time to choreograph a group out of their stint as members of the Custodio Dance Company.

no parade

With the safety and health of the children to be considered, Sinulog Foundation Inc. executive director Ricky Ballesteros decided to cancel the procession and parade from the Plaza Independencia because of the inclement weather.

He plans to propose a prize for the best in street dancing next year so the children’s efforts in the parade will be acknowledged.

There were only 12 dancing contingents from Cebu City public elementary and high schools for the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama thanked everyone who made the event possible despite the weather conditions that caused them to eschew the parade from the Basilica del Sto. Niño to the Sports Center.

The grandstand of the Cebu City Sports Center was filled to capacity. “The show must go on. They came here to watch and the children came here to dance. Thank God it didn’t rain that hard,” Rama said.