By: RIC V. OBEDENCIO

The combined hearts and minds of Gov. Edgar M. Chatto and City Mayor John Geesnell “Baba” Yap have resulted to the blockbusting staging of what observers have called “the best Sandugo festival ever in Bohol's history,” which was capped with the most participated street dancing showdown, watched by tens of thousands of Boholanos and tourists last Sunday. Shaking off the trauma of past Sandugo celebrations which had earned the signature line as “bibo pay gapatay ug has,” the combined Chatto-Yap forces have made this year's month-long Sandugo Festival a world-class showcase of Bohol's ingenuity, artistry, unity, creativity, friendship and character.

Since day one of July's Sandugo month, guests and visitors were offered with all sorts of no-nonsense activities which were not present in the previous celebrations, once managed by the Bohol Sandugo Foundation, a private group which had been accused of corruption and non-transparency in accounting of millions of funds earned and spent during a 30-day festivity. “That is how a Sandugo Festival should be conducted,” said a source who also noted thatthis year's Sandugo Street Dancing was so far the most colorful and grandiose in all combined years of past Sandugo revelries.

“If only the provincial government and the city government were the ones that handled the Sandugo celebrations before, Bohol tourism and economy would have accomplished so much,” the source said. With Provincial Administrator Ae Damalerio and City Administrator Edi Borja providing a blow-by-blow support and encouragement to everyone involved in the preparation and execution of the planned activities, this year's Sandugo Festival has signaled a new hope for Bohol's annual celebration of international friendship. “It would be so scary for the Sandugo to be managed by the Bohol Sandugo Foundation again,” another source said. “This festival should have been handled by the Capitol and City Hall since it began years ago.”

 Meanwhile, the contingent of Bohol Island State University (BISU) of Calape town won the most-coveted prize in the 2014 Sandugo Street Dancing competition held Sunday (July 27) at the President Carlos P. Garcia Sports complex.  BISU-Calape overpowered 11 other contingents and received P300,000 cash plus trophy even as the Calabe-based state college also grabbed the “Best in Street Dance” and “Best in Synchronization” awards.  The contingent of Balilihan town came out first runner-up and took home P250,000 plus trophy and adjudged as “Best in Costume.”  Second runner-up prize went to Holy Name University (HNU), which was awarded with P200,000. HNU also won the “Most Authentic” award. The street dancers of Anda town were competition's “Best in Interpretation” and Tagbilaran City contingent represented by Barangay Ubujan was the ”Most Lively Group.”

 The contingent of Catigbian town, last year's runner-up, settled for the “Most Colorful” award while the Talibon town contingent, the “Most Disciplined Group.” Mabini town contingent was adjudged the “Most Unique” group. Other contingents include the municipalities of Baclayon, Antequera, Cortes and Bohol Institute of Technology-International College (BIT-IC). Members of the Board of Judges were Ramon Markaida, Victor Jao Cuenco, Max Luna III, Bonifacio Bargomento and Maryo delos Reyes, chairman. Delos Reyes, a multi-awarded movie director, is a Boholano, being a native of Alicia town. Bohol's media queen Ardy Ines Araneta, as the lady of ceremony,breathed so much life to this year's showdown at the CPG complex. Lawyer John Titus Vistal partnered with Araneta and gave the Boholano audience an 8-hour stretch of absolute fun sans the rowdy crowd who refused to be controlled by untrained security staff. The annual mardi gras competition culminated the month-long “Blood Compact” or Sandugo celebration in honor of friendship forged by Bohol's Datu Sikatuna and Spanish general Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, on March 25, 1565.