31st National Folk Dance Workshop for Teachers

I am excited to attend this dance workshop. Our school, University of Cebu already set a budget for this event. This may be chance for me to be updated with our own dances and those unpublished dances.

The National Folk Dance Workshop will be on May 16 – 20, 2011 at Bago City, Negros Occidental. As I read the memo through the use of internet, I immediately wrote a letter to our school head. It was fortunately approved by our Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Ulysses Aparece.

Here is the statement about the up coming seminar.

“The Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Folk Dance Society (PFDS) in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA),Civil Service Commission (CSC), and the Local Government of Bago City will conduct the 31st National Folk Dance Workshop for Teachers on May 16-20, 2011 at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Complex, Bago City, Negros Occidental.

The activity aims to address the needs and concerns of teachers in folk dance education and production as well as to help develop a deeper appreciation for Filipino dance and music traditions. The Workshop also pays tribute to pioneering Filipino folk dance researchers by teaching and promoting their outstanding works.

Teachers, dancers, choreographers and members of dance groups will be participating in this Workshop. The Workshop will consist of practicum works, lecture-demonstrations, group dynamics, street dance, cultural shows, regional presentations and the culminating showcase.

A registration fee of P3,000.00, not inclusive of meals, board and lodging, will be charged.  For more information, please call the CCP Dance Division at tel. no. (02) 832-1125 local 1602/1603 or the PNU PE-DETAME Office at tel. no. (02) 302-7770 or email jopinay4u@yahoo.com, lag_7254@yahoo.com and rmfronda@yahoo.com.”

Source: Cultural Center of the Philippines

Passionata Gleek Squad Showdown

“Ng Khai, together with its partners, HP Philippines, Ayala Center Cebu and Microsoft Philippines, as well as Cebu Award winning musician Dennis Sugarol, have launched a contest that will provide a venue for our customers and the community as a whole the opportunity to be a catalyst for the development and appreciation of the Filipinos talent for music and dance.”

Passionata Gleek Squad Showdown is a contest of any performing group to present a song and dance production number ala various famous musicials like Glee, Camp Rock or High School Musical.  The audition will be held at Ayala Activity Center which will be on November 20, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. There will 30 participants from different schools, company and barangays who will showcase their talent on the said event. The organizer will only chose top 10 finalist.

Who among of them will make it to the finals? The final competition will be on December 4, 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Auditorium, 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

First prize will be 100,000 pesos, while second and third prizes will be 50,000 pesos and 20,000 pesos respectively.

To all participants, good luck!

SINULOG 2009 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

One of the reasons that make the Sinulog Festival became successful because of the people who have the passion on photography. Sinulog cannot be appreciated by the person who lives away from the Philippines or even they he lives here but he wasn’t able to witness the grandest fiesta at all if there is no printed material involved.

I’m looking forward of the results for this year prestigious photo contest. It is just like waiting for the radio to announce the Sinulog Contingent winners.

Here are the complete lists of winners for this year photo contest…

CONTINGENT CATEGORY

1st  Erwin Lim
2nd  Francis Dunque
3rd  Mark Anthony Velasquez
4th  Kenneth Si
5th  Mark Anthony Velasquez
6th  Eric Palmares
7th  Mikhail Arrogante
8th  Erwin Lim
9th  Erwin Lim
10th Chailun Leung

FLUVIAL/SOLEMN PROCESSION CATEGORY

1st  Daniel Ybañez
2nd  Jose Teresito Ybañez
3rd  Jacob Maentz
4th  Kino Lim
5th  Mikhail Arrogante
6th  Jacob Maentz
7th  Zosinit Yanson
8th  Mikhail Arrogante
9th  Armando Lorico Jr.
10th Rene Ybañez

FLOAT/HIGANTE/PUPPETEERS CATEGORY

1st  Teresito Ybañez
2nd  Jose Teresito Ybañez
3rd  Michol Sanchez
4th  Jerome Janvier Albrando
5th  Marvin Bonjoc
6th  Rene Ybañez
7th  Jacob Maentz
8th  Vic Kintanar
9th  Erwin Gavino
10th Jacob Maentz

SIDELIGHTS/ROUTE DECOE/ON SITE DECOR CAT

1st  Allan Restauro
2nd  Elmer Philip Lim
3rd  Jimmy Wu
4th  Erwin Lim
5th  Dexter Bongo
6th  Jon Aguirre
7th  Luisito Cleofas
8th  Teresito Ybañez Jr.
9th  Christopher Colinares
10th Jon Tolentino

FESTIVAL QUEEN CATEGORY

1st  Paul Gotiong
2nd  Edgar Tan
3rd  Rolando Pascua
4th  Jose Teresito Ybañez
5th  Ted Madamba
6th  Francis Dunque
7th  Mikhail Arrogante
8th  Armando Lorico Jr.
9th  Jeffrey Go
10th Ted Madamba

GRAND WINNER

1st Alex Badayos

2nd Armando Lorico Jr.

3rd Edgar Tan

KUDOS!!! To all winners!!!

SINULOG: JUST OR UNJUST TREATMENT?

Sinulog is the time of venerating the Holy Child, Señor Santo Niño. This is the time that a lot of people from different places flock here in Cebu City just to visit his house, Basilica del Santo Niño. There will be nine days of novena in honor of the Holy Child. Some people went there (Pilgrimage of Basilica) to light candles, pray, falls longest line just to wipe his glassed image and attends mass. These are usually done by the devotees of the child since their prayers were answered, some of them were still asking for something from Him.

Last January 15, 2009, it was the day when the University of Cebu is one of the sponsors of the mass. This has been yearly activity organized by the people who manage the mass sponsorship. It was about four past thirty when I decided to walk ahead of the UC community, thinking I could find myself a comfortable place to stay with. As I walked, the CWTS students were there in the streets. They were ready to cordon the place since UC composed of quite number of faculty and students from different campuses.

I just walked normally since I am three months pregnant. The carosa of UC is not too far from where I stand. It is just about 50 meters away from me. Nevertheless, I walked a little bit faster. Until such, I reached at the Basilica. There I could hardly breathe since most people where just coming in and out.

I wanted to stayed at the pilgrimage, there is only one way in going up in each side of it. I could describe it as a flooding, bumper to bumper. You can’t move. I am afraid that time, there was a stampede. What I did, I just put my arms around my belly just to protect me and my baby from bumping. Fortunately, I made it on top.

On the other hand, after Sinulog, if I was not mistaken, that was January 19, 2009, Manny Pacquiao visited Basilica. He was given a special treatment. It is a special treatment in a sense that he doesn’t need to fall in line just to kiss the image.  In my opinion, it has to be fair and square. Popularity should not be the bases of special treatment. If Manny is a devotee of Santo Niño, he should do the same thing of what ordinary people did.

Due to the incident happen, the organizing committee of the Sinulog Fiesta must give priority lane for senior citizens, pregnant and people who are in the wheelchair. In this manner, there would be cozy feeling for those who will attend the mass and to avoid from stampede.

Sinulog 2009 winners

SINULOG GRAND MARDI GRAS PARADE

Free Interpretation Category:
First Place: Buyogan Festival of Abuyog Leyte
Second place: Lumad Basakanon
Third Place: Carmen, Cebu
Fourth Place: Lanao de Norte
Fifth Place: Tribu Karatong of Dulag Leyte

Best in costume: Lanao del Norte

Sinulog Based Category:
First Place: Sinanduloy Cultural dance Troupe, Tangub City
Second Place: Don Sergio Sr. National High School
Third Place: Carcar, Cebu
Fourth Place: Alcoy Siloy Festival of Alcoy, Cebu
Fifth Place: Pakol Festival of Sta. Catalina Oriental Negros

SINULOG SA KABATAAN – DAKBAYAN

Elementary Division:
1st – Lahug Elementary School
2nd – Pasil Elementary School
3rd – Punta Princesa Elementary School
4th – Talamban Elementary School
5th – Banawa Elementary School

Secondary Division:
1st – Don Sergio Sr. National High School
2nd – Camp Lapu-Lapu National High School
3rd – Pardo High School
4th – Florencio Urot Memorial High School
5th – Abellana National High School

SINULOG SA KABATAAN – LALAWIGAN

Sinulog Elementary Division:
1st – Lapu Lapu City Elementary School
2nd – Kawayan Elementary School, Dalaguete
3rd – Pundok Tugboanun, Consolacion
4th – Bogo Elementary School
5th – Sugo Elementary School

Sinulog Secondary Division:
1st – Carcar National Highschool
2nd – Consolacion National Highschool
3rd – Mandaue National Highschool
4th – Liloan National Highschool
5th – Guinsay National Highschool (Danao City)