Marvel in beauty, rejoice in the festivity, and celebrate in unity. This was the spirit of the Tubignon merrymaking and gaiety and in this annual pageantry of sights and sound that filled the air and atmosphere not only in the streets, church but in every household on May 15 as Tubignons from around the globe gather in this idyllic town to celebrate, convene and converge in the fiesta of its beloved patron, Sr. San Isidro Labrador. Festive atmosphere and revelry filled the air despite the scorching heat of the  sun. This year’s 2011 Tanda Festival highlighted one of the main components of its festivity dubbed as, “The Bulong-Imang Street dancing and Showdown Competition. Performers, instrumentalists, choreographers, coaches were busy frolicking the streets with only one goal, to offer a prayer dance of entreaty to the patron saint of farmers and to ultimately bag the grand prize of P30,000.00. Jubilant onlookers lined up the streets of the Tubigon National Highway to catch a glimpse of the contingents grand production as reflected in their costumes, hand props, andas, and carosa which bore the image of Sr. San Isidro. That was the streetdancing competition where dancers were made to execute a progressive dance in the street with judges discreetly blending among the crowd.

The competition commenced in the Tubigon Commercial Complex Parking Lot where a huge modular stage was set up to accommodate another set of judges, dignitaries, visitors and guests. Each of the contingents gracefully danced and swayed in the tune of drummers, lyrists, and buglers as they depicted a story about the patron saint’s intercession in their eight minute showdown ritual. A new twist was being added for this year aside from the usual prayer dance on the streets.  A search for the female lead dancer who demonstrated the most exceptional qualities, both in physical and dancing prowess among her peers. The search highlighted the lead dancer’s performance and her ability to interpret the Bulong-Imang ritual dance with rhythm and grace in a two-minute individual dance showdown. She  then was hailed as, “The Queen of Bulong-Imang 2011.” The title was bagged by Ms. Jhudiel Israel of Tribu Mag-uuma who was crowned by the Tubigon first lady Eden Jao, Cong. Rene Relampagos and Mayor William Jao.

To add pomp and color to the celebration, Street Dancing chair Gertrude Abarquez tapped the famous Avatar-themed float of International Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IPI) to be one of the main highlights of the parade where the reigning Anyag sa Tubigon 2011 Lorie Geisha Cabrera and her royal court were extolled. IPI has been a consistent champion during the Sinulog Festival for the float competition and has participated in various float competitions in countless festivals in the country. This edition would be participated by performing barangays grouped into  seven clusters, namely: Cluster I(Tribu Banikanhon)- Villanueva, Cahayag, Panadtaran, Banlasan, and Ilijan Sur;   Cluster II(Tribu Mauswagon) - Pandan, Matabao, Panaytayon, and Ilijan Norte; Cluster III(Tribu Rapiyahanon)- Genonocan, Pinayagan Sur, Pinayagan Norte, Potohan, and Tan-awan; Cluster IV (Tribu Mag-uuma)-         Centro, Tinangnan, Macaas, and Cabulijan; Cluster V (Tribu Mangingisda)- Bilangbilangan, Bagongbanwa, Batasan, Mocaboc, Ubay, and Pangapasan; Cluster VI(Tribu Lumad Tubignon) - Pooc Occidental, Talenceras, Guiwanon, Ubohan, and Pooc Oriental; Cluster VII( Tribu Bukidnon) - Bosongon, Cawayanan, Bunacan, Buenos Aires, and Libertad.

The emerging winners of the Streetdancing and Showdown Competition were as follows: Streetdancing Category- Tribu Rapiyahanon; Showdown Category-  Tribu Rapiyahanon(1st Place), Tribu Mangingisda (2nd Place) & Tribu Bukidnon (3rd Place); Costume Category- Tribu Rapiyahanon and Queen of Bulong Imang Categroy- Jhudiel Israel of Tribu Mag-uuma. The Winner of the Showdown Category bagged 30,000 PhP , 20,000 PhP, and 15,000 PhP for the first, second and third places respectively. The Best in Costume takes home 10,000.00 while the Best in Street dancing got the same amount. The Queen of Bulong Imang got a cash prize of 5,000 PhP. The non-winning contingents got a consolation prize of 10,000 PhP as surprisingly announced  by the town mayor so that nobody goes home empty handed. The Bulong-Imang has been Tubigon’s identity and  trademark. The town’s ancestors in fervent devotion and exaltation dance in front of the carosa of our patron saint for all the blessings, miracles, healing and supplication received through the saint’s intercession. They solemnly dance and raise their handkerchief in the beat of the drum and percussion thanking Sr. San Isidro for all the favours received, may it be for the year’s abundant harvest, a loved one’s successful business undertaking, a healing of an ailing person, or a safe birth delivery or any petitions that a devotee wants to be granted.