THE 2005 KINABAYO FESTIVAL STREET DANCING & FINAL SHOWDOWN OF THE SHRINE CITY OF DAPITAN
By: Liermie Camahalan Eguia

The peace loving people of Dapitan were suddenly pumped-up last July 25, 2005, Monday, 1:00 in the afternoon as a sudden joyous beating of drums, tinkling sound of various native instruments and “oh too much” accentuated costumes and the stumping of feet of the 13 contingents of the Kinabayo Street Dancing Competition as they lively yell, “Viva Señor Santiago, Viva!”

The Kinabayo Street Dancing has been a yearly event and has always bee the highlight of Kinabayo Festival of Dapitan City. This year’s competition were actively participated by all barangays of Dapitan City and as well as the people from Polanco, who also showed everyone not only their dancing abilities but also their good response to the invitation of the city government as well to make the festivity of Saint James more merrier.

The streets where filled with the melodious parade from the bridge of Bagting moving along Jose Rizal Avenue then to Justice F. Saguin and Gov. Guading Adaza Street, and finally to the Jose Rizal Memorial State College (JRMSC) Main Campus grounds, the venue for the final showdown. The Board of Judges for the Street Dancing were; Dr. Cecilia S. Saguin, Ms. Minda Madronial (DOT) chaired by Mr. Henry E. Elnas, Assistant Regional Director of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Groups of fun loving and young at heart Dapitanons also joined the parade: the major winners of the recently concluded Ms. Dapitan 2005, KF 2005 Colors, KABUG (Kabataang Bugtong) and of course the parade would not be complete without the Kabayo or the horses that led the parade which fittingly portrays the city’s patron saint, Señor Santiago. It was quite confusing the way they imitate Señor Santiago and that made up a certain comical question on what is really the hair of Señor Santiago looks like? Is it blonde? Is it long or short? Or maybe bald!

Moving on, as soon as some of the contingents arrived at the showdown area, the committee automatically started the program. Hon. Alexander C. Yorong, Dapitan City Councilor led the opening prayer followed by the singing of the Philippine National Anthem accompanied by the Dapitan City Band. Hon. Dominador G. Jalosjos, Jr. expressed his warm greetings to everyone and his concerns being the Mayor of the City of Dapitan.

The competition was divided into two (2) categories; Category A that was supposedly a invitational competition but unfortunately only the contingent from Polanco made it. For this to happen, the El Toro of Polanco automatically receives the first prize for both the Street Dancing and Final showdown worth P15,000.00 and P50,000.00 respectively.

In category B, the participants were Tribu Dumuduong (San Nicolas), Tribu Busay Engkantada (Sinonoc), Tribu Magsasaka (Barcelona), Indak Pinoy (Dawo), Tribu ni Vencio (Owaon), Lumad Dapitanon (Banonong/PTCA), Tribu Magbaba-ol (Potungan), Kabataan ng Brgy. Barcelona (Barcelona), Tribu Manobo (Opao), Pundok Dugmonan (Sulangon), Tribu Bila-o (Cawa-Cawa) and Tribu ni Rizal (Brgy. Talisay).

The Board of Judges for the Final Showdown were composed of distinguished personalities in the culture and the arts business and they are the following; the Chairperson si Mrs. Renefe Tremedal, AIM Consultant Team Member and the Cultural Coordinator of Zamboanga del Sur Tourism Office; Prof. Ramon S. Aguirre, Technical Director of Tagum Cultural Dance Troupe; Rochelle Claire Podico, Consultant TRANSCO Cultural Dance Troupe; and Prof. Eugene Torres, Jr., Director, Literature at the relatively famous Kultura Mindanao Ensemble.

As the master of ceremonies announces the judges’ decision, it can be fairly noticed that the contingent from Barangay Talisay seems to be the most excited of them all. And their excitement was right on the money as they bagged all major awards as well as the minor ones. Tribu ni Rizal won the 1^st prize worth P50,000.00, the Best in Costume worth P10,000.00, the Best in Street Dancing worth P15,000.00, the Best Horse Mascot worth P10,000.00 and finally the Best Choreography which won them P10,000.00. All in all, this year’s Kinabayo Festival Street Dancing and Final Showdown Grand Champion brought home a staggering total of P95,000.00

Lastly, the winner for the 2nd place spot was seized by the very colorful contingent from Barangay Dawo and they brought with them the cash prize worth P40,000.00. On the other hand, the 3^rd place award worth P20,000.00 went to Barangay Cawa-cawa.

The grand prize winner of the invitation category is the only contingent that made it to participate in the Final Showdown of the 2005 Kinabayo Festival and its no other than the municipality of Polanco. Photo shows Municipal Councilor Ivan Hope Olvis receiving the cash prize worth P50,000.00 and trophy from City Councilor Apple Marie Agolong and DOT-9 Regional Director Rick San Juan.