DAVAO CITY—The G-string clad male dancers and female dancers who were almost perfectly made-up to look authentic tribals from Bislig, Surigao del Sur, bagged the first P1-million top prize in the tribal street dance of the Kadayawan festival here.
The top prize and best choreographer award in the open category was easily grabbed by the Sindac Anib Performing Ensemble of Bislig, Surigao del Sur, from a field of seven contingents from Lupon and Mati City, both of Davao Oriental, Maco of Compostela Valley, Santo Niño of South Cotabato, and the provinces of Maguindanao and Sarangani.
This was the biggest pot put up by the city government, which placed the Kadayawan fruit harvest festival in the big league of festivals in the Philippines.
Although the Sindac Anib Performing Ensemble elicited some comments on their daring attire, their performance drew rave reactions from the audience at the covered Kadayawan Square, the finale performance venue of the Indak-Indak sa Kadayawan 2019.
The Bislig group, making only the second appearance at the festival, also swept the other awards in best music and best artistic design.
The Catalunan Pequeño National High School Kawangis Performing Arts Guild won the Davao City school-based category. It also got the best music category.
The Bislig contingent won another award in the Championship Circle, landing third in the overall ranking, and received P500,000.
The previous top winner in the previous street dance, the Mabini National High School Special Program in the Arts, won second with P600,000 prize. It was also second in the Davao City school-based category.
The Santa Ana National High School Performing Arts Guild garnered the grand prize in the Champions Circle with a P1.2-million prize.