Melo Villareal
Philippine Travel Blog together with Byahilo.com and Justwandering.org recently covered the 2008 Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival last August 9,2008. Covering Festivals is definitely not new to me. I’ve been covering festivals in different cities and provinces in the country since 2002 but i stopped when i started working early 2006.
Festival Winners
When Eric and Nina said that they will be going to Cebu to cover the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival, I immediately said Yes! Im joining. Finally, After more than three years I will visit Cebu again.
The streetdancing competition started at around 2pm in Mandaue City Plaza. We enjoyed the 1.5 kilometer-long walk from Mandaue City Hall to CICC (Cebu International Convention Center) to follow the 34 contingents as they parade with their unique and colorful costumes.
Street Dancers
Unlike the Popular Sinulog Festival, the parade route was not as crowded as the later but the prices at stake for the winning contingents are bigger and I in my own opinion this “Festival of Festivals” is more organized than Sinulog Festival.
Pasigarbo Sa Sugbo Festival 2008 Contingents
After the streetdancing parade, the Pasigarbo sa Cebu contingents individualy performed for the showdown with their own localized music which are generally not impressive since most of them are not upbeat and appropriate as a festival music.
After the streetdancing parade, we headed back to the hotel to freshen up. Since we had a long walk, we decided not to go back to CICC to watch the “Festival of Festivals” Grand Showdown but instead we just had our dinner at Larsian – A smoky barbeque haven right in the heart of Cebu.
Lucky enough, we were able to watch live telecast of the showdown via local Skycable channel. The Festival “showdown” winner got P1-million grand prize while the winner in the street dancing category got P500,000.
Street Dancers
Here’s ths list of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo winners:
CHAMPION Palawod Festival of Bantayan island – Php 1,000,000.00
2. Haladaya Festival of Daanbantayan – Php 800,000.00
3. Siloy Festival of Alcoy Php 700,000.00
4. Ani-anihan Festival of Tabuelan – Php 600,000.00
5. Banig Festival of Badian – Php 500,000.00
6. Tostado Festival of Santander – Php 400,000.00
7. Carmen Sinamay Festival – Php 300,000.00
8. San Francisco, Camotes Island – Soli-Soli Festival – Php 200,000.00
Pasigarbo Best in Costume – Banig Festival of Badian – Php 500,000.00
Best in Street Dancing – Daanbantayan Haladaya Festival –
Each and every town also gets PHP100,000 subsidy.
Here’s the total list of Contingents
1.Barili — Kaumahan Festival
2. Madridejos — Isda Festival
3. Ginatilan — Hinatdan Festival
4. Tuburan — Tubod Festival
5. Alcoy — Siloy Festival
6. Minglanilla — Sugat-Kabanhawan Festival
7. Bogo City — Pintos Festival
8. Toledo City — Hinulawan Festival
9. Sogod — Panagsugod Festival
10. Bantayan — Palawod Festival
11. Argao — Pitlagong Festival
12. San Fernando — Sikoy-sikoy Festival
13. Dalaguete — Utanon Festival
14. Tudela — Cassava Festival
15. Alegria — Kawayan Festival
16. Carmen — Sinamay Festival
17. Mandaue City — Mantawi Festival
18. Consolacion — Sarok Festival
19. Oslob — Sadsad Festival
20. Daanbantayan — Haladaya Festival
21. Poro — Tagbo Festival
22. Liloan — Rosquillos Festival
23. Talisay City — Halad Inasal Festival
24. Carcar City — Kabkaban Festival
25. Badian — Banig Festival
26. Alcantara — Bahandi Festival
27. Tabuelan — Ani-anihan Festival
28. Pinamungahan — Pamuhuan Festival
29. Aloguinsan — Kinsan Festival
30. Dumanjug — Sinanggiyaw Festival
31. San Francisco — Soli-soli Festival
32. Santander — Tostado Festival
33. San Remegio — Lapyahan Festival
34. Danao City — Karansa Festival
Mayor Jonas Cortes of Mandaue City said that the Pasigarbo sa Cebu Festival was a celebration of life and the different cultures of the participating Cebu towns and cities.
“What we witnessed here tonight is a moment, something beyond words. Usa ka talagsaong yugto nga nahitabo kanatong mga Sugbunanon. Ug dili unta kini mahitabo kung wala pa kata magkahiusa,” Gov. Garcia added.
Pasigarbo Sa Sugbo Festival 2008
Overall, I think that the festival organizers did a very good job. I would like to commend the Office of the Provincial Governor of Cebu for the job well done and for providing us media pass for our festival coverage:). We will definitely go back next year.
