Lumad Basakanon competes in Daegu Festival in S. Korea

Cebu's pride Tribu Lumad Basakanon of Barangay, Basak San Nicolas has returned to South Korea to compete in the 2022 Powerful Daegu Festival.

The group left yesterday with a bagful of hope of bringing honors back for Cebu and the country. Expectations are high on Tribu Lumad Basakanon having won the bronze in the World Wonju Dynamic Dancing Carnival also in South Korea back in 2017.

Aside from its previous achievement in Korea, adding pressure for the Lumad Basakon is the fact that back in 2019 the Masskara Festival of Bacolod won the battle in what used to be known as the Colorful Daegu Festival with Japan and China finishing on second and third place, respectively.

The Tribu Lumad Basakanon got their tickets back to Korea for the Daegu Festival after topping in the virtual battle last year. There were four of them qualified last year but Tribu Lumad Basakanon was chosen to represent being the defending champion of Sinulog Festival’s free interpretation category.

Ricky Ballesteros, co-chairman of the Korean-Philippine Festival Cultural Exchange Association, Lumad Basakanon’s winning entry video was shown in led towers in the business district in Daugu City making their presence today even more anticipated one.

“When we submitted the entry video (last year), the Koreans were awed by the video presentation,” said Ballesteros.

Aside from the Lumad Basakanon, two finalists of the now-defunct Pilipinas Got Talents, Angel Fire and the Juans are also included in the festival as guest performers. Ballesteros was also invited as one of the judges in the said festival but he begged off saying, he does not want to be accused of “biased” being a Cebuano with Lumad Basakanon competing.

“After two year of hiatus, the festival is back ...Tribu Lumad Basakanon will compete against various entries from different contingents from all over the world on July 8-10, 2022. Good luck...and raise the Philippine flag, Tribu Lumad Basakanon,” Ballesteros said.

Today (July 8) will be the first stage performance while the main parade will be held tomorrow (July 9), which will also serve as elimination round. The final street performance is set on July 10. —