Tangub City to show fierce wars and faith

Tangub City contingent

How does a record-breaking Sinulog champion outdo itself?

The “Dancing Pilgrims of Tangub City” are back in Cebu for the 2014 Sinulog parade, ready to defend its unsurpassed record as Grand Champion in the dance competition’s Sinulog-based Category for nine years.

Spectators can expect to witness an unusal mix of music and choreography.

There will be two warplanes, sharp military gestures, a soaring soundtrack and five sets of costumes.

“The first part is about the series of wars fought by Filipinos: the Philippine Revolution, the Philippine-American War and World War II,” said the group’s choreographer and artistic director Emelio S. Pascual.

“And it will be very graceful and flowing and heartwarming at the end.”

The city of Tangub in southern Misamis Occidental in Mindanao set a near-unbroken record as the Sinulog grand champion in almost every year from 2002 to 2013.

(Tangub missed only three years of the stretch in 2004, 2008 and 2012.)

While many contingents are expected to use themes of survival and crisis following typhoon Yolanda and the earthquake that rocked Cebu and Bohol last year, Tangub is highlighting man-made conflicts and how Cebu rose from the devastation of World War II. This is not a daunting role for Pascual, a Cebuano university professor and heritage advocate with roots in Mandaue City, who has steered the group through its many victories.

At the center of the dance remains steadfast faith and devotion to the Sto. Nino throughout the struggle of Filipinos as a nation.

Their dance entry “is also related to the Cebuanos’ rising again from the destruction of the earthquake and Yolanda,” he said.

The cultural troupe arrived in Cebu by boat Wednesday morning.

Tangub Mayor Philip Tan heads the delegation with his wife Dr. Jennifer Wee-Tan who is chair of the the Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe, and Vice Mayor Edemar Alota.

The cast has 100 dancers, 90 propsmen, 42 instrumentalists and 8 vocalists. There are five dance masters and two musical directors.

Expect to hear a mix of marches and choral voice soundtrack arranged by musical directors Noriel Erap and Rey Quilang. It will also feature historic music of the Katipuneros, and marches during the American period.