Cebu's target for Sinulog, the world

CEBU CITY -- It's high time local choreographers and Sinulog organizers are exposed to other festivals, said Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
This way, they are exposed to "more ideas and fresh inputs to upgrade the Sinulog Festival and to go on performing well next year," he said.
With Manila as a competition in mind, the mayor announced Monday that Sinulog choreographers and some of the organizers will be sent this year to at least two festivals abroad.
"We will send them this year to Brazil to watch the carnival and to New Orleans to observe the Mardi Gras. We will upgrade our sites and our goals to put Cebu on the map. Without the Señor Sto. Niño, our efforts wouldn't have mattered. It is an effort of the whole of Cebu to make it what it is today. This is one moment that we can feel proud that Cebu is the capital of the Philippines," an elated mayor told a big crowd at the Cebu City Sports Center Monday.
Osmeña admitted to the spectators that the judges had a hard time choosing the winners, "as almost all of the contingents performed to perfection."
"Pait kaayo ang situation kagahapon dinhi (It was a difficult situation). It's painful to select only a few winners because for me all of them are big winners. Dako kaayo ang problema (It's a big problem) that you have to choose only a few," he said in his speech.
Winning contingents of the Sinulog grand parade last Sunday once again showed their award-winning dance steps, costumes, props and music before another big crowd that gathered for the awarding ceremony at the sports center Monday afternoon.
A contest judge said, though, that there is a need for contingents to internalize the worship of the Sto. Niño in their presentations.
Dr. Larry Gabao, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) past president, said the Sto. Niño has become almost like a prop in every presentation that the veneration is almost non-existent.
He recalled the time of "legendary" choreographer Melquiades "Mike" Gonzalez, whom he said was always able to produce the proper emotions for his dancers to show in their performances.
"They were able to translate to the audience that emotion that 'Here we are performing for the Sto. Niño.' Makikita mo talaga sa mukha ng dancers nya kaya kahit pauli-ulit na ganon, papanoorin pa rin ng mga tao," he said.
"Ngayon, hindi na nakikita na ang Sto. Niños is being adored. They should renew the veneration. The spirit of worship is no longer there," he added.
Gabao said that while the dancers might have faith in the Sto. Niño, it is different to let the emotion show during a performance.
He also emphasized the need for proper costuming. He mentioned in particular a "Reyna Juana wearing a dress with slit up to the hips."
He likewise emphasized that preparation is really the key to winning.
"Most contingents made early preparations, with new concepts being introduced. And less copying is done," Gabao said.
In particular, he cited Compostela National High School, which he said had a "very good concept."
Compostela, though, only took home the fifth spot in the Sinulog-based category after suffering a 20-point deduction for a rule violation.
But Gabao was all praise for the contingent.
"I praise the choreographer in successfully putting the concept into the body of the dance," he said.
"The best choreographies are almost (all) here in the Sinulog. What matters is execution," he added.
The mayor congratulated the choreographers, Vice Mayor Michael Rama, the councilors, the police, volunteers, Sinulog executive director Ricky Ballesteros, balikbayans, visitors and out-of-town contingents.
Osmeña also hopes to upgrade everything, including financial assistance to out-of-town contingents, cash prizes and promotional activities.
As to how much, he said he will discuss the matter with organizers and leaders of various contingents to see how the City can help regular visiting contingents.
This year, the Cebu City Government donated P8 million to the Sinulog Foundation that went mostly to cash prizes for all categories and financial assistance to out-of-town contestants and participants to the Sinulog sa Kabataan, Lalawigan and Dakbayan categories.
The foundation's expenses reached P20 million.
As to his earlier announcement to hold the Sinulog activities at the South Road Properties (SRP), the mayor said the grand parade cannot be held there, as there is no facility that can match the sports complex.
But activities like the Miss Cebu or the Sinulog Festival Queen may be held at the SRP next January.
"We're running out of ideas. It's about time to be exposed to other festivals. Those (choreographers) who participated a lot, I think they need fresh inputs. Our competition now is Manila. We have to outclass them. We cannot be second to them," the mayor told reporters after the program.
He said he will find an airline willing to sponsor the trip to Brazil, "as it is not cheap to go there."
The Carnival is an annual celebration in Rio de Janeiro held 40 days before Easter. It marks the start of Lent.
Another celebration there is the Samba Parade, which is broadcast live to several countries and to all Brazilian states.
Considered by many as the greatest show on earth, this two-day extravaganza lasts 20 hours, with 70,000 participants.
The Mardi Gras in New Orleans is scheduled 47 days before Easter and takes place on any Tuesday from February 3 to March 9.