Although five days short to make it a full month, the famous Sandugo festival catapulted to its climax today amidst reports of unfulfilled promises regarding prizes in its previous staging three years ago.
First the bad news. This year's Sandugo festivities were marred by reports that a winner in the 2006 Miss Bohol international was not able to enjoy her prize of a US round trip courtesy of pageant organizers. Ms. Loida Tiza Lagonoy from Dimiao and who represented the University of Bohol raised several eyebrows Friday evening when she delivered a farewell speech on the occasion of the coronation of Miss Bohol International 2009. Crowned as this year's Miss Bohol International is Ms. Carleen Angelica Pepito Yap. It was actually not a farewell speech according to the program but was more of an impassioned one after the poor winner lambasted the pageant organizers for reneging in their promise to hand down the grand prize –an all expenses round trip to the US. In her speech, she said she still felt cheated even if she was granted a US visa as a result of winning the prize.
The problem of US entry came when the plane ticket which was sponsored by Philippine Airlines lapsed its shelf life. Apparently due to some runaround of contest organizers to have the winner took the earliest flight possible, the free air passage of PAL expired. Her lament was that the organizers did not go out of their way to replace the expired air ticket. According to those who witnessed the Friday coronation event, the audience was shocked about the revelation of the Dimiao beauty.
The 26-day festivities include the Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan which is supposed to start today but the Post chose to skip the proceedings arising from a high-handed treatment it got from some TBTK officers. The paper's reporter was assured by a certain Cora (the Post did not bother to get her family name) for a list of all balikbayans only to be told that a high-ranking TBTK officer did not like the idea of giving it to the Post. As part of the Sandugo celebration, the Post was more than willing to publish the list of balikbayans coming home for the TBTK shindig. It was the paper's way of gauging whether a heavy turn out of TBTK delegates was in place. Since some TBTK officers must have thought of some other strange things in mind as to why they refused to release the list of participants of the grand homecoming, the Post management just consider the same as part of the hazard of the profession. The Post management can only heave a sigh of relief thinking that on hindsight it will be able to save precious newspaper's space.
STREET DANCING REVELRY
Whatever negative reviews that came into play as the celebration reaches its climax, still the show must go on. Be that as it may, the Sandugo's spirit of revelry reaches its peak today with its friendship theme, the main highlight of the affair. In a rare display of thespian showcase, nine contenders will slug it out in the street dancing competition. The competing teams will snake the thoroughfares of Tagbilaran City amid the beat of drums and other indigenous musical instruments. In a grand display of sounds, sights and tributes, the contingents will try to outsmart each other to get the judges' nod. The contingents include performers from Balilihan, Baclayon, Corella, Catigbian National High School , Immaculate Mary Academy of Catigbian, Maribojoc, Trinidad , Tubigon and Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School representing Tagbilaran City.
Streetdancing Committee Chair Carmen Gatal of the Bohol Sandugo Foundation, Inc. (BSFI) confirmed the participation of these performers in last week's meeting with contingent choreographers. She said the streetdancing starts at 12:30 pm and all contingents must be at the Tagbilaran City Tourist Port already by 11 am to assemble. Then, they will snake through Gallares Street , and turn at JS Torralba Street , then to Sarmiento Street fronting the Cathedral Parish of Saint Joseph the Worker, and proceed to CPG Avenue . The parade culminates at the CPG Sports Complex. Gatal also announced that the top cash prizes will be to the tune of P200,000 for first prize winner, P150,000 for the second and P 100,000 for the third. They go along with trophies, she said. As a special presentation, a group from the municipality of Inabanga which has recently launched its Raffia Festival will also be performing. Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim chairs BSFI, while Deputy Mayor Mariano Uy serves as executive director. ( With reports from Roger Balamad and Fiel Angeli E. Araoarao–Gabin)
|
