SLU wins Panagbenga street dancing

BAGUIO CITY — Skipping the past years’ Panagbenga competitions, Saint Louis University (SLU) returned to the grand street dancing parade of the 23rd Baguio Flower Festival on Saturday and won the top prize for the open category.

SLU’s winning performance was on the theme “Merchant of Baguio” and will receive 1250,000.

On second place is last year’s grand champion for the same category, the Tribu Tinungbo of Pugo, La Union, bagging the 1200,000 prize. Third place winner is Tribu Rambak, of Umingan, Pangasinan that will receive 1150,000.

The Gardener’s Tribe of Madaymen, Kibungan, Benguet; the “Tribo Man-apit” (harvesters) of Puguis, La Trinidad, Benguet; Ayyoweng di Lambak (call for celebration) of Tadian, Mountain Province and the Dinamey Baguio Cultural Group; Baguio Binadang (helping hand) As Nan Batawa Cultural Dancers; Amamong (festival) Chi Umili of Bontoc, Mountain Province; Baguio Umili Ay Kalalaychan (elderly) Cultural group; I-Lubuagen Performing Group of Lubuagan, Kalinga province; Caba National High School, Shakrag Sadanga of Sadanga, Mountain Province Cultural Organization; Tribu Bugkalot of Aurora province and the Chom-No Cultural Performing Group of Tamawan barangay in the city will also receive 130,000 as consolation prize.

A total of 27 groups participated in today’s street dancing parade – eight vying in the elementary division, five in the high school division and 14 in the open division.

Winning this day’s competition in the elementary division is come-backing champion Baguio Central School which presented the story on “Legend of the blooming flowers in Cordillera” will receive 1250,000 in cash prize. Central School, the oldest elementary school in the city had in the past been winning the grand prize but lost it to Mabini Elementary school for three years, losing the chance to get the hall of fame.

Second placer Apolinario Mabini Elementary school which carried the theme “Pigsa ken Kagam-a-Tribute to our culture” will get 1200,000. Landing on third spot is consistent top notcher Manuel Quezon Elementary School that that gave a presentation carrying the theme “Baguio city of loving people who nurtures culture and preserves nature” will receive 1150,000. Non winning participants – Tuba Central school; Josefa Carino Elem. School; Aguinaldo Elem. School; Dominican Mirador Elem. School and Jose P. Laurel Elem. School, will get 120,000 consolation prize.

For the high school division, University of the Cordilleras High School Street Dancers Ensemble bagged the grand prize that carries a prize of 1200,000; Baguio City National High School at second place will receive 1150,000 while Pines city National High School is on the third spot and will bring home 1100,000. The high school division is a returning category after many years of non participation in the event.

The non winning groups Remnant International College and SLU Laboratory High School will each receive 155,000 consolation prize.