Though earlier billed as losing its luster of old, the festive Sandugo mood is off to a roaring finish this afternoon with the street dancing competition featuring six contingents slugging it out to bring home the grand prize. The otherwise less than festive celebration as compared to previous outings is more than compensated with the presence of high-profile TV-movie celebrities courtesy of the GMA 7 stable. Real-life sweethearts Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera more than fill up the exciting part as they parade their wares along with other GMA stars during the Sandugo parade. The other stars of the show are Bianca King, JC Dioseco and Dion Ignacio, said Bohol foundation president, Mario Uy. Prior to the street dancing showdown at the President Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex, a skydive exhibition, the first of its kind here, will be shown at past one o’clock in the afternoon, scourtesy of Bethlehem Gardens Homes of Arnel Armamiento, CEO and president.

The participating contingents are: the Immaculate Mary Academy of Catigbian town; Barangay Cogon of this city; Barangay Doljo, Panglao town; Barangay Totolan, Dauis town; Bohol Island State University, Clarin town campus; and Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School of this city. The foundation was quick to defend the short list of participants due to insufficient time for preparations of some municipalities considering their newly assumed officials following the last elections. Last year’s outing also showed a low turnout. Only the Holy Name University, BISU-Candijay town; Catigbian; LGUs of Ubay and Garcia-Hernandez saw action in the “mardi gras.” This year’s cash bonanza for street dance winners would be bountiful, said City Mayor Baba Yap. Mayor Yap said he expected this to be enhanced as he bared that the city and provincial governments have allotted P300,000 and P1 million, respectively. He said Gov. Edgar Chatto has committed the amount for the province’s share to the foundation’s activities this year.

This is aside from increased consolation cash prizes or financial assistance to other contingents apparently to defray incidental activities of the participating groups. Expected to participate in the three-kilometer parade from the city tourist seaport to the sports complex are the newly crowned Miss Bohol Sandugo 2013, Miss Brigitte Burato and her royal. The Sandugo beauties will have their own float. Miss Brigitte Burato, 18, of Alicia town is crowned as Miss Bohol Sandugo 2013 last week along with Miss Shaila Mae Rebortera, 17, of Baclayon town, first-runner-up and Miss Dae Narah Garcia, 17, of Talibon town, second runner-up. Reenactment of the Blood Compact is also expected to take place during the competition at the sports complex. It is aimed to pay tribute to the native chieftain Datu Sikatuna and Spanish Gen. Miguel Lopez de Legaspi who forged the first ever recorded treaty of friendship, now known as “Sandugo.” (RVO)