Libotero – Philippine Travel Photo Blog

Since its inception in 2004, only representatives of out-of-town contingents were named as Sinulog Festival Queen! The seven-year reign of the out-of-town contingents was broken last year, when a Cebuana, Steffi Rose Pearson Aberasturi of Lumad Basakanon, won as Sinulog Festival Queen 2011. It’s a back-to-back win for Lumad Basakanon as their lead dancer this year, Apriel Smith, won as Sinulog Festival Queen 2012 at the Sinulog Festival Queen Competition held earlier at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Steffi Rose Pearson Aberasturi - Sinulog Festival Queen 2011

The search for the Sinulog Festival Queen aims to look for the best female lead dancer based on how they carry themselves as they carry the image of the Sto. Niño while they dance. This year’s staging had 14 participants.

The event was scheduled to start at 7:30pm but heavy rain affected the grand finals of Sinulog Musicfest Band Competition and Sinulog Best Dance Crew which were supposed to be held at Fuente Osmeña so both events had to be transferred to the Cebu City Sports Center and precede the Festival Queen Competition. The main event only started at 9pm.

The Cebu City Sports Center was really full! I guess the attendance earlier was the most for any staging of the Festival Queen Competition.

This year, there were four main parts of the competition: first was the opening production number, then followed the group production, which is basically a 2-minute preview of what these groups will be presenting on Sunday during the Sinulog Grand Parade, third was the solo performance where the lead dancer portrays how one should carry the image of the Senyor Sto. Niño, and lastly, the showdown, where each candidate danced on stage in threes.

This is my 3rd time to attend the Festival Queen Competition and I really try to spare some time for this event as the performances by each group would give you an idea of who to look out for in the Sinulog Grand Parade. This year, two groups really caught my eye and they are Tribu Himag-ulaw of Placer, Masbate and Tribu Lingganay of Alang-Alang, Leyte. A few days ago, I saw a feature report in a local news program wherein the choreographer of Tribu Himag-ulaw shared that their theme for this year is to portray “wildlife”. I really did not expect that they would go all out as they had dancers dressed as life-size tigers, lions, crocodiles, giraffe, gorilla, and zebra among others. It was like a zoo on stage! Meanwhile, I saw how Tribu Lingganay performed at last year’s Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals in Leyte. (They were the winning group in Kasadyaan 2011 by the way) and I was really surprised by the vast improvement of the group in such a short span of time. The costumes are way different from what they wore last year, and they had more elaborate, eye-popping props! I really had goosebumps when they performed that I almost cried, LOL.

Land of Beauty and Bounty, Lanao del Norte

Pasaka Festival of Tanauan, Leyte

Anyway, here are the winners of Sinulog Festival Queen 2012!

PRE-PAGEANT – held yesterday at the Northwing, SM City Cebu

Best in Runway – #4 Shekina Rose Lasola (Sandurot Festival, Dumaguete City)
SM City Cebu Glamour Girl – #4 Shekina Rose Lasola (Sandurot Festival, Dumaguete City)

FESTIVAL QUEEN 2012

Corporate Awards:

Miss Photogenic – #5 Bulacao Community School
Miss PLDT – #13 Apriel Smith (Lumad Basakanon)

Sandurot Festival of Dumaguete City

2012 Shopwise by Rustan’s Queen – epitomizes the good life – #4 Shekina Rose Lasola (Sandurot Festival, Dumaguete City)
Miss Teletech – #4 Shekina Rose Lasola (Sandurot Festival, Dumaguete City)
Miss Globe – #4 Shekina Rose Lasola (Sandurot Festival, Dumaguete City)

SPECIAL AWARDS:

Best in Festival Costume (solo) -#13 Apriel Smith (Lumad Basakanon)

Lumad Basakanon
Best Festival Costume (group) – #13 Apriel Smith (Lumad Basakanon designed by Danny Booc)
Best Instrumentalists – #7 Conchitina Cleofe Cloma Yu (Tribu Lingganay of Alang-Alang, Leyte)
Best Solo Performer – #13 Apriel Smith (Lumad Basakanon)

Tribu Lingganay
Best in Group Performance – #7 Conchitina Cleofe Cloma Yu (Tribu Lingganay of Alang-Alang, Leyte)
Best in Opening Production Number – #4 Shekina Rose Lasola (Sandurot Festival, Dumaguete City)

#10 Angel Lou Pates (Lanao del Norte)

4th Runner-Up:#10 Angel Lou Pates (Lanao del Norte)

#4 Shekina Rose Lasola (Sandurot Festival, Dumaguete City)

3rd Runner-Up:#4 Shekina Rose Lasola (Sandurot Festival, Dumaguete City)

#7 Conchitina Cleofe Cloma Yu (Tribu Lingganay of Alang-Alang, Leyte)

2nd Runner-Up:#7 Conchitina Cleofe Cloma Yu (Tribu Lingganay of Alang-Alang, Leyte)

#8 Nerissa L. Modesto (Pasaka Festival, Tanauan, Leyte)

1st Runner-Up:#8 Nerissa L. Modesto (Pasaka Festival, Tanauan, Leyte)

#13 Apriel Smith (Lumad Basakanon)

SINULOG FESTIVAL QUEEN 2012- #13 Apriel Smith (Lumad Basakanon)

Sinulog Festival Queen 2012 Winners!

Back-to-back Sinulog Festival Queens from Lumad Basakanon

VIVA PIT SENYOR!

It was all about last night for the candidates of Miss Cebu 2012. Arguably the most elegant beauty pageant in the country, Miss Cebu 2012 was organized by the Cebu City Government through the Cebu City Tourism Commission and Cebu City Tourism Foundation, Inc.. It is the city’s official search for the most fitting representative and spokesperson of Cebu who does not only possess physical beauty but has a heart as well. Miss Cebu 2012 Coronation Night was held at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

The winners were finally declared and they are:

MISS CEBU 2012 – #6 Pierre Anther G. Infante
1st Runner-Up – #4 Rachel Chloe T. Palang
2nd Runner-Up – #7 Ella Beverly P. Sarmago
3rd Runner-Up – #10 Jonnie Rose Louise R. Wee
4th Runner-Up – #8 Herlie Kim T. Artugue

Special Awards:
Miss Friendship by Waterfront – #7 Ella Beverly P. Sarmago
Miss Photogenic by NGenius – #1 Michelle Angelique A. Tan

Best in Evening Gown, Miss Glamour Girl Cathay Pacific – #6 Pierre Anther G. Infante
Best Evening Gown Designer – Cary Santiago

Kapamilya Star of the Night – #7 Ella Beverly P. Sarmago

(This post will be updated with photos within the day)..

Congratulations ladies and Pit Senyor!

Want to take part in the Sinulog 2012 Festivities but cannot be physically present in Cebu during the Solemn Procession on January 14 and Sinulog Grand Parade on January 15? Don’t fret! Several media organizations will be providing live streaming of the various highlights of the Sinulog Festival 2012. Check out our compilation below:

- SkyCable Cebu will be airing the Sinulog Festival Queen Competition on January 13, starting 7pm at Sky Channel 15; Sinulog Grand Parade Street-dancing, on January 15, starting 8am at Sky Channel 2 and the Sinulog Grand Showdown on January 15, starting 9am at Sky Channel 15. Online, these may be viewed at

- Live Streaming of the Miss Cebu 2012 Coronation Night at Studio 23.

- Live Streaming of the Sinulog Grand Parade at the Sinulog Official Website and CCTN Website

- Live Streaming of the Sinulog Grand Parade (from 8am-5pm) at the Choose Philippines Website. Register and get a chance to win exciting prizes!

- TV5 Sinulog Coverage (from 8am-8pm), live at Aksyon TV Channel 41 in Mega Manila, Channel 29 in Metro Cebu and Davao, Channel 1 on Cignal Digital TV, and Channel 59 on Sky Cable. Live streaming may also be viewed at the InterAksyon website.

- ABS-CBN Cebu and DYAB Teleradyo will also be having a coverage of the Sinulog Grand Parade. DYAB Cebu’s Live Webcast may be viewed here

- Live Streaming of the various Sinulog activities at SunStar Cebu’s Sinulog Microsite

Pit Senyor!

After yesterday’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan got the momentum for the Sinulog 2012 fever started, the energy was fueled even further by the staging of the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan earlier!

The Sinulog sa Kabataan is one of the highlights of the Sinulog Festival every year. It is held annually one weekend before the Sinulog Grand Parade. It serves as an “elimination round” for the elementary and secondary students of the province (Lalawigan) and the city (Dakbayan) as the winners of both competitions will automatically be elevated to be part of the Sinulog Grand Parade to go up against other local and out-of-town contingents.

The activity started at exactly 1 in the afternoon with street dancing by the participants from the Plaza Independencia, in downtown Cebu City, to the Cebu City Sports Center (Abellana), where the showdown was held from 2pm onwards. 7 contingents battled it out for the elementary division while there were 10 for the secondary division.

Anyway, here are the winners of the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan 2012!

ELEMENTARY:

Best in Musicality: Labangon Bliss Elementary School

5th: Mambaling Elementary School

4th: City Central School (TRIVIA: they were 5th place last year)

3rd and Best in Costume: Zapatera Elementary School

2nd: Punta Princesa Elementary School

1st: Bulacao Community School

It was refreshing to see a “Sinulog-based” performance win the crown in the elementary division this year. Most of the winners in the previous years had “Free Interpretation” performances. The Sinulog-based category entails a lot more discipline within the dancers as there are strict guidelines by the Sinulog Foundation to be followed, such as, the two steps forward-one step backward movement, among others, and it’s just very heartwarming to see young children, most of them at 9-12 years old, already very controlled and graceful in the execution of the movements. The only group that did not go home with any award in the elementary division is Carreta Elementary School.

SECONDARY:

5th: Ramon Duterte Memorial National High School

4th: Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. Memorial National High School (TRIVIA: last year, they were 2nd place)

3rd: Barrio Luz National High School

2nd and Best in Musicality: Apas National High School

The performances of the Top 4 were very solid this year. I was able to predict the Top 4 but I thought that any one of them could grab the crown. The competition was really very tight, especially between the Top 2. There was a lot of pressure for Abellana as they won for the past two consecutive years and they needed this for a grandslam win. Abellana National School had themed-presentations for the past two years. In 2010, they portrayed Bulacan’s traditional subli folk dance. Last year, they portrayed the Pastores, which is about the Nativity. This year, they presented a very unique theme, a mass wedding, in line with the theme of this year’s religious fiesta celebration, “Sto. Niño: Refuge of the Filipino Christian Family”. The concept was very apt as families indeed begin from the union of a couple. Their costumes were very elegant as well. The girls had intricate white bridal gowns while the boys were in barongs. To add to those elements, the dancers moved very gracefully and you could tell that they knew what they were doing. Their performance was well applauded. A few groups later, it was Apas National High School’s turn on the stage. They had a huge backdrop that depicted the historical attractions of Cebu. They wore Filipiniana costumes but the biggest come-on of their performance was how their dance built momentum starting with a graceful drama quickly transforming into a heart-pumping fast-paced bouncing, stepping, waving and swaying! They got roaring cheers from the crowd which made me think that they had a very high chance of snatching the crown from Abellana.

1st: Abellana National School

Ultimately, Abellana National School emerged as the winner! I personally do not know anyone in the group but I have been a fan since 2009. Where did it all begin? Sinulog Festival Queen Photoshoot 2009. My camera simply loves their lead dancer, Rotahmae Joy Verano. She has always shined in my photos and I was glad that she’s back this year because for some reason, she only played a supporting role last year.

Here’s a video of their repeat performance immediately before the awarding ceremonies earlier:

The other groups that participated in the secondary division are Talamban Night High School, Gothong National High School, Lahug Night High School, Pardo Night High School and Don Vicente Rama Memorial National High School.

Prizes for the Sinulog sa Kabataan were increased this year! The winners of the special awards (Best in Costume and Best in Musicality), each received P20,000. The Champion in both divisions received P300,000; P150,000 for the 2nd placer, P100,000 for the 3rd placer, P75,000 for the 4th placer and P50,000 for the 5th placer.

I’ve observed that there has been a shift of interest in this year’s Sinulog sa Kabataan (both Lalawigan and Dakbayan) as the competition in the secondary division was more interesting than the elementary division. This could be attributed to the absence of most of last year’s winners in the elementary division, so definitely, there was less challenge and pressure to the participating contingents this year but Overall, the performances delivered this year have really leveled-up, compared to last year’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan!

It’s one week to go guys before the Sinulog Grand Parade 2012!!

It’s Sinulog time once more and the Marco Polo Plaza, Cebu City’s finest hotel, joins the rest of Cebu in celebrating its grandest and most colorful festival. As we chant these days: Pit Senyor! Viva Snr. Santo Niño!

Ms. Julie Najar (Marco Polo Plaza Cebu Resident Manager), special guest priest, Ms. Rowena Montecillo (Region Director, DOT-7), Ms. Jessica Avila and Mr. Val San Diego welcome guests, media and VIPs to the launch of Marco Polo Plaza’s Sinulog 2012 activities

Val San Diego, Ms. Rowena Montecillo, and special guest priest grind Cebuano raw ingredients to formally open Sugbusog 2012!

From January 6 to 15, Marco Polo Plaza brings back well-loved Cebuano traditions. In honor of the occasion, they opened the special weeklong Sto. Niño exhibit, a rare antique collection of the Compañeros de Juego del Sto. Niño, at the hotel lobby.

Exhibit opening and blessing

The San Diego Dance Company

The Marco Polo Plaza also continues its traditional SUGBUSOG, with this year’s theme “Suroy Suroy sab ta sa Marco Polo” For lunch or dinner, delight in a sumptuous selection of Cebuano heritage cuisine, featuring the culinary treasures of Cebu’s famous municipalities in the south: Dumanjug, Ronda, Carcar, Argao, Boljoon, Oslob and Santander.

Have your fill of all time Cebuano food favorites like lechon (this time, it’s Carcar lechon, arguably Cebu’s best tasting!), kinilaw, pusit (squid) and other seafood fare, as well as afritada, inun-onan, sinanduloy, guso, lato, and more. Talented restaurateur and guest chef Jessica Avila also shares well-loved family recipes for traditional Cebuano fiesta dishes. Ms. Avila has been the food consultant at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu for almost four years. As an icon of Cebuano cuisine, she has graciously contributed her expertise and extensive knowledge in Cebuano dishes, food styling and events to help make Cebuano food festivals at the Marco Polo culinary triumphs. Imagine tasty treats such as biko, humba, budbud, bagoong and a lot more. All these on top of the regular international buffet favorites at Cafe Marco.

Check how familiar you are with Cebuano food by trying to label all the dishes that appear below..

Drooling?

Make this week a truly festive affair! Go up and celebrate Sinulog 2012 at Cebu City’s only five-star hotel, the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu. For inquiries and reservations, call 253111 loc 8249 or email mpplaza@marcopolohotels.com

After yesterday’s kick-off parade to open the festivities, it’s all systems go for the biggest and grandest festival in the Philippines, the Sinulog Festival!

Earlier, the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan was held. The Sinulog sa Kabataan is one of the highlights of the Sinulog Festival every year. It is held annually one weekend before the Sinulog Grand Parade. It serves as an “elimination round” for the elementary and secondary students of the province (Lalawigan) and the city (Dakbayan) as the winners of both competitions will automatically be elevated to be part of the Sinulog Grand Parade to go up against other local and out-of-town contingents.

The activity started at exactly 1 in the afternoon with street dancing by the participants from the Cebu Provincial Capitol, to Fuente Osmeña, down to the Cebu City Sports Center (Abellana), where the showdown was held from 2pm onwards. 6 contingents battled it out for the elementary division while there were 11 for the secondary division.

Here are the winners of the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan 2012!

ELEMENTARY:
5th: Santa Filomena Elementary School, Alegria (last year’s 2nd placer)

4th: Bogo City Division

3rd: San Roque Elementary School, Talisay City (last year’s champion)

2nd: Tuyan Central Elementary School, Naga City, Cebu (first time to join)

1st: Danao City East District, Danao City Central School
Best in Costume: Danao City East District, Danao City Central School
Best in Musicality: Danao City East District, Danao City Central School

Rapid movements, colorful props and eye-catching transitions afforded the Danao City Central School the crown for the elementary division this year! As there were only 6 groups who competed for the elementary division, only Gregorio Milan Elementary School of Balamban did not make it.

SECONDARY:

5th: Maslog National High School, Danao City

4th: Medellin National High School (first time to join)

3rd: Lawaan National High School, Talisay City

2nd: Toledo National Vocational School (last year’s 5th placer)

1st: Carcar City Division (defending champion)
Best in Costume: Carcar City Division
Best in Musicality: Carcar City Division

It was a very close fight between Toledo and Carcar for the secondary division. The former had very sparkling costumes and extravagant props which were executed properly while the latter had simple props but very seamless and graceful choreography and hair-raising musicality. Carcar emerged victorious as their performance really showed discipline and fluidity in their movements.

Other groups that participated in the secondary division were Pajo National High School (Lapu-Lapu City), Liloan National High School, Tuyan National High School (Naga), Tabok National High School (Mandaue City), Tuburan National High School and Tulay National High School.

Overall, the performances delivered this year have leveled-up, compared to last year’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan! Governor Gwen Garcia and Mayor Michael Rama, who were both present, described the performances as world-class! It’s good that our homegrown contingents continue to raise the bar in terms of performances, choreography and innovation each year.

Meanwhile, it’s the city boys and girls’ time to shine tomorrow for the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan! Pit Senyor!