Out-of-town contingents rule Sinulog

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The heavy downpour did not deter the more than 3.5 million crowd from watching the grand Sinulog Mardi Gras 2011 up to the last presentation Sunday night as out-of-town contingents went home with the top prizes.

It was a back-to-back victory for the Tribu Himag-ulaw of Placer in Masbate, and Tribu Sinanduloy of Tangub City, which ruled the Free Interpretation (FI) and Sinulog-based (SB) categories in the Sinulog competition that was attended by millions of people who crowd the streets despite the bad weather.

In the FI category, Tribu Buyoganon of Albuyog, Leyte won second place while children from the Mabolo Elementary School here won third place.

The returning contingent from the northern municipality of Daanbantayan won the fourth spot in the FI category in this year’s grand parade while the fifth spot went to the Talamban Elementary School contingent.

Mabolo and Talamban contingents also won the third and first place, respectively, in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan held on January 9.

The consistent winner, Tribu Basakanon of Basak San Nicolas, failed to take the top five spot in this year’s Sinulog.

Other winners in the Sinulog-based category were Abellana National High School – 2nd place, City of Carcar – 3rd place, Bayawan City – 4th place, and City Central School – 5th place.

A total of 143 contingents – dance contingents, higantes, floats and pupetteers – competed in Sunday’s Sinulog grand parade.

The parade ended with an elaborate 30-minute production number that centered on the Chinese influences of Cebu.

Amid the backdrop of a pagoda, the finale number was impressive with dragon dances, acrobats, and Kung Fu trainees, among others.

Cebu Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar, in a fuchsia satin robe with long kimono sleeves, appeared on stage as a Chinese empress.

Both the police and events organizers said last Sunday's Grand Mardi Gras was considered as one of the most successful, peaceful, and orderly celebrations in the festival's history.

Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe said this year’s crowd estimate is bigger compared to the three million last year.

Buenafe said at most 3.5 million people came to watch the Sinulog this year despite the rains.

The figure includes those who watched inside the Cebu City Sports Center and those who were on the parade route.

According to Buenafe, the five additional contingents this year added to the number of the crowd by as much as 200 per contingent.

Despite the huge volume of people watching the Sinulog, Buenafe said the celebration went peacefully except for a few incidents of snatching and pick pocketing along the parade route.

A foreigner was also injured after she slipped at the grand stand. (report from Mars Mosqueda Jr., Manila Bulletin)