Pasigarbo Sa Sugbo 2009 Street Dancing

I do not have many things to say this time, other than… they were great and made yesterday truly a fantastic sunny day! Traffic in that area of Mandaue crawled and halted but I heard no one complaining hehe! Oh, for a change, I will pepper this page with pictures and/or videos that I took during the parade instead of my veeery looong stories. Well, I am talkative you know… so there will still be a spattering of what I think I have to tell you!

Rushed to the Mandaue City Hall at exactly 1PM. That meant I was already late! Oops, the intersection of AS Fortuna and the Highway (MC Briones) was already closed. So I asked the driver to try entering via AC Cortez (the road that leads to the old bridge) corner A Del Rosario St., Voila! The intersection of AC Cortez and A Del Rosario was also already closed and some contingents were there. I just thought OMG, this is going to be a very long parade! So, I walked A Del Rosario heading towards City Hall to see what I can and to grab lunch along the way. I was not disappointed!

While having lunch at Chowking (diagonally across Jollibee) I noticed that groups actually took off from the very corner. Here goes my pics…
Oh alright boys, girls and gays... I mean the performers and crews! As promised, just email me if you want any pic in the original hi-res version or if by chance I may have a pic or vid not posted here, then I'll see what can be done. You are all great!

Even the lowly "puso" had a place in the parade!





Poor footwear won't fit his big feet!













These kids had to endure the scorching heat of the noon sun. Every little shade became suddenly very useful! Mind you those beautiful costumes are nowhere near cool to wear am almost sure. Those are real mats (as in your usual lowly banig). Try wrapping your mat around your body, go out in the sun and start dancing. Hah, it won't be easy! But these folks seem to be having fun just the same! I salute them! I truly do!


Ah, this is not part of the parade hehe! Its a hearse that just came out of the Mandaue Church heading towards the cemetery and they had to pass where the competing teams waited for their cue in the parade.

I think they can lie down anywhere with those dresses?! Those are mats anyway hehe!


Every little shade counts... every little shade. I was starting to feel sorry for them... but they were all smiles and giggly! So I thought I was over-reacting. Anyway, was I not baking myself in the sun too trying to shoot pics? Well yes, BUT I was not dancing and did not have to be anxious about any "winning performance". So I all the more salute these kids! I know we shall all envy them having experienced this. Its a story to tell your children and grand children, yknow!


And these two beauties were trying to grab a quick nap. They had a tiring pit of final rehearsals late last night... and in a while its showtime... so, beauty rest was truly in order. But I disturbed them :( My apologies darlings.












Took this pic to remind me at how detailed their outfitters do it down to every footwear. But I see a nokia hiding somewhere hehe... do you?






Crowd rousers! These boys mimicking the vendors of Carcar triggered a lot of coaxing from the audience. There was even almost a commotion. When some ladies shouted for them to throw the goodies to the audience, others thought they'd do it and started inching forward to the middle of the street. Gosh! I am thankful they did not! Otherwise it must have been chaos. Well, if they did, I would have fought for at least a piece of those goodies... I think hehe!







Crowd favourite! As the Mantawi Group approached, people were cheering and clapping and many of them (us) spilled into the street to watch. That woman in yellow (middle of photo and not part of the crew btw) was jumping and cheering and clapping like she won the lotto! Of course this group was favourite of many in the audience since they represent the city of Mandaue where the festival was being held. I call that "home-court-advantage" hehe! Oh hey, even I (now a Banilad resident) was unconsciously cheering for them! Oh well, blood is thicker than beer hehe!




One more cheer for Mantawi... they painted their sneakers gold to match their costumes! Da! Kaya nyo?!


The smiles in this group were truly captivating and contagious! I did not even see nor hear the "counters" - y'know, the performers who you hear loudly counting 5, 6, 7, 8 and 1, 2, 3, 5 whatever hehe! In this group, they looked like they were just there to have fun in their dance and that they knew their steps so they enjoyed it and their smiles were genuine! When they swayed or ran or jumped, the smiles were just really perfect... not controlled nor mechanical!



Oh hey, these guys were not winners but they captured my attention on the street. Synchrony and fluidity of their moves were for me quite amazing! I found them good even if there were hitches once they started moving forward! Well yes, I also saw them sweep the awards over at the Hinulawan last June hehe! Biased ba?!











Da si madir ka-strict ba! He was shouting "forward forward fooorwaaard"! If I were organizing these contests, I think it would be good to subtract points if the choreographers or trainers are seen coaching during the parade. This is what performers should have already practiced doing, right? So, if the parade is itself a contest, the trainers should already cease and desist! At the very least they should do it discreetly or via signals sounds or clickers. Well actually, the only thing that sometimes irks me is that these trainers, guides, choreographers etc., most often block the spectator's view or distract the attention to the performances. Oh okay, I like his shoes hehe!




Another cheerful bunch! They look like they're really enjoying what they do!







More coming!

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Pasigarbo Sa Sugbo 2009 Rehearsals

This is still part of the month long ‘One Cebu’ celebrations. I actually did not go to see these rehearsals. I just accidentally plunged into it!

Okay, I visited the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) to see if there’s anything interesting at the exhibits and fairs. Fairly the regular mart that you see held in big places like the Mega Mall or at SMX. Regular meaning I roamed it with such gusto! The booths of each municipality actually ate most of my visit, as they were interesting in terms of design, products, attractions and information. You know… like the travel marts, furniture shows, product showcases and agri-fairs all rolled into one. Hey, all halls had so many exhibits and even at the lobbies of the CICC. After almost the whole day roaming the many booths at three levels of the CICC, I called it a day and started my way out to catch an early dinner at The Park Mall.

But that early dinner did not happen! As I went out of the CICC, I saw some activity at the parking area where a grand stage was undergoing finishing touches. Oh hey, tomorrow’s competing groups were practicing! So I told myself, why not sit in for a while and see how it goes. And OMG it is dead serious!

Groups were doing their blocking sessions and full rehearsals, thus, the place teemed with a lot of people. The bleachers were full with participants waiting for their turn and even a whole lot more of the general public – onlookers like me, some even already armed with their cameras. It is a big big stage since Cebuanos know how huge the stage should be at festivals like these. The audience area is not that big though – but I am sure Cebuanos also know how huge a crowd can get at festivals like these. Then again, there is too little available space here than at say, the sports complex!

Heard a gay voice shrieking on the microphone and it reverberated all throughout the place! So I squeezed myself into the bleachers to see what was happening. Hmm, “Toslob Festival” was in the midst of their blocking session. Looking at them, the first thing that came to mind was “it must be quite a feat to be in the shoes of that shrieking gay”. Imagine, making everything move in the correct order and sequence?! That “everything” usually means hundreds of teenagers and even little children as dancers and crews with usually a lot of heavy props to push, pull, toss or lug around the stage while dancing and running. Yep, in 99.9% of the best festivals in this country, the choreographers, directors and assistants are gay guys. And am sure you’ll agree with me that festivals will be boringly dull without them! They’re just too good in this field.

Anyway, back to the Toslob blocking session. They were trying to mark their positions as the principal director (or is it choreographer?) was far in the middle of the bleachers where the judges will sit. “Okay, block it now aaaand next position, MOVE”! That was the usual bark of the dear sisterette sometimes croaking at the microphone as obviously his throat has had enough of shouting! “You boy in blue, move to the right! More, more aaaand stop! Okay stay there! Arms-length everyone daliii!”; “Riser, wala ka sa centro… ang balwarte wala sa centro… dai dai tarunga daw nang linya diha”; “lee-dancers abante pa gamay”; “kamo diha sa right-side move pa sa tomoy”; and so on! By the way… that phrase “lee-dancers” that I kept hearing actually meant “lead dancers” as I came to understand while I sat there watching and listening.

“Ang mga okir sa left, sikit kaayo mo diha, di na mo katoyok ana, ay suus angat pinoy”! Then everyone laughed! I liked that expression but had to do some extra analysis what all those meant. Ah, the “okir” probably meant “ochre” or "ocre" – those huge lace-like props about 12 to 15 feet high! “angat pinoy” is their way of making the vindictive “tanga” a bit more mild and fun to hear!

“okay, next formation… move”! and everyone rushes to their new positions “one arm, one arm” there he goes barking again, and the kids try to adjust their positions according to what the shrieking boss was saying. Oh there were three or four more gays (probably called assistant choreographers) right on stage also barking commands at the performers. Most of the time these gays were the ones addressed by the boss gay on the microphone.

“okay… exit, exit, EXIIIIIT! Faster, we only have 10 minutes ug naa na ang hinulawan naghulat” came one more shriek! Silence… then in his high gayness he exclaims… “laydish and gentlemeeen, the Toslob sa Oslob” then goes the “Pasigarbo sa Sugbo” theme song and the real dancing starts. Gosh, audience were applauding as if this was their final performance! And yes, I too was silently applauding with goose bumps all over me!

Then in the middle of the performance he shouts “CUT CUT CUT”… the music suddenly dies, everyone stops dancing and silent as if waiting for one more shriek at their mistake. “kamo diha sa left, ayaw mo pag palayo kay dili na balanse sa center stage! Diha ra diha! Tan-awa ang plywood!” Da! Nasuko na gyud hehe! “Okay, gawas, faster, let’s start from the top… “laydish and gentlemeeen, the Toslob sa Oslob”… then goes the full performance! My goodness that was great! I mean this group was/is not even touted as one of the best but for me they were already good!

After the performance, as the audience was applauding, there was one final shriek “dancers gather in that area, propsmen gather in that area, don’t disperse yet, we have a lot to discuss!”

That is how it goes during blocking sessions! After Toslob, I saw that Toledo City’s Hinulawan immediately assumed the stage. And oh my badness, the next shrieking gay even had a more teeny voice that pierced my ears. She (oops… He) started with “standby dancers, we will start with a full performance and then see what needs to be adjusted”. The theme song thundered, the dancing and running started… and of course, the shrieking kept competing with the music! This time, the boss choreographer of Hinulawan was shrieking mad at how off-center the riser was! Yup, I saw that, they were too far to their right! And I said to myself, that’s why they have these blocking sessions. Whew!

By the way, for those not in the know… a “riser” is that stair-like thing that they use so dancers can climb and dance at, to give more depth or drama to the performace. These are most common in Visayas festivals. Risers are heavy and sturdy – have to be since the performers climb, stomp and jump on those.

As I started off to catch dinner, I chanced upon the Toslob choreographer discussing with a festival official. He was saying something like “okay, we will take 1 o’clock”. He was jokingly scolding the official for giving his troop only one practice session in the entire schedule. My inquisitive mind itched again, so I looked at what the official kept referring and pointing at. My golly! At the front of the middle bleacher just behind the ground-level chairs was a big and wide tarpaulin about my height and about 20 or more feet wide. It had nothing but the blocking schedules printed! Whoa! That serious!

If I thought that was very serious for the festival to even have the blocking schedules printed on a tarpaulin, the contents was even more serious it made me swallow a lump in my throat! The schedules can be as early as 5AM and as late (or is it “as early”) as 1AM. OMG! Imagine your children or imagine yourselves being a performer or a crew of these various contingents! All for the show! Wow! All the more that I salute these festival performances, not only at how grand their shows are but also at the patience and hard work they have to endure just to give us a free show! Yeah, I checked it out hehe, Toslob just had the past hour as their “authorized” practice session on stage!

As I walked onwards, I saw that the Oslob troop was busy in some discussions while their big and heavy props were neatly arranged on a part of the parking lot. Many of them were obviously tired at that last practice and I saw that some were even still panting while others were taking deep breaths. Nevertheless, these are mostly kids, so the giggling and joking around is always there. They don’t mind the physical stress they have to muster just to give a good performance. Oh hey, as I overheard earlier, this group is to practice once more later at 1AM.

While the Toledo contingent was busy mastering their moves on stage at the shrieking of their lead choreographer, I saw some props from other contingents all waiting and ready on the sides and performers waiting for their turn to practice on that big stage. There were a lot of buses too. Most of the shirts and props that I could read had “Tabuelan”. I did not see anything that said “Sogod” or “Panagsogod” though I know their blocking schedule was at exactly midnight. And the parade starts at 1 PM tomorrow over near the Mandaue City Hall – which means all of these troops must be there at noon.

My solitary dinner was consumed thinking in admiration at the sacrifices of all these festival performers and crews. Especially for this Pasigarbo sa Sugbo event, the contingents are all towns and cities of the province. Thus, except for the Mandaue group, none of them comes from just around the corner. They come from as far as the northern or southern tips of the island and are usually housed just at elementary or high school classrooms. Only for us to watch them free… and only for them to have that bragging rights for being the “top performer”!

This time, I realized with more sense and compassion that the things they do at these festivals are grueling – and that is if only to ensure that we the audience will enjoy their performances. Who are we anyway?! But that is the way of the festivals in the Philippines… big/heavy props, big groups, big crowds, big applause, less funds!

I now have a different perspective and respect to all who join such festivals, winner or not. My hat off to all of you!

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Palo Cathedral just quickly!

From Tanauan, I rode a jeep bound for Tacloban but got off at the highway intersection in Palo where the big cathedral is. As said earlier, I had no particular purpose. More of just roaming around to see whatever comes by! So, I did not even have any idea what I wanted to see or experience in each of these places I was visiting! All right, I have seen that big big Hispanic era house and I was diagonally across it from the intersection. It is huge and imposing in its olden appearance. From where I was, I could clearly read the sign that says “PIO & LUISA PEDROSA CULTURAL CENTER”. Whatever that is, I crossed the road to go near and see what’s inside. As I skirted the building, checking out on the two entrance doors, I discovered I was not lucky that time. It was/is closed! A tricycle driver told me that it has closed for some time now.

So. I crossed to the Palo Cathedral. Standing outside and in front of it, the cathedral looks very big as the two bell towers on either side are themselves huge plus the road in front is narrow. Across its frontage still is the big grassy park where kids play. Unfortunately, moving towards the center of the park for a better view even more obscures the cathedral due to thick foliage from many big trees. But I am not complaining. It had better be like so!

Like elsewhere, it has many names such as “The Palo Cathedral”, “Metropolitan Cathedral” or “The Cathedral of Our Lord’s Transfiguration” etc., I prefer to call it the Palo Cathedral. Yep, this cathedral also fares well in history and I particularly like about the changes in its “management” through the years! It was erected by the Jesuits, then by the Augustinians and later the Franciscans. Like many other churches in the country, it also became a hospital by the American Liberation Forces during the war.

Similar to that in Tanauan, I like it that this cathedral’s outside look belies the modernity of its insides. The entire floor is covered with fairly new ceramic tiles sporting a generally yellow floral design. What immediately called my attention were the rows of television setts and speakers that line the sides together with the usual electric fans. Hmm, this cathedral must be enjoying the generosity of Palo residents. Looking closely at those gadgets, I noticed they are not just so so equipment but from notable brands especially the speakers. In fact, the only other people inside the church as I roamed were two men and a woman testing the sound system in the entire church. And indeed it is good. Now that made me think… how does the church use those television sets? Telecast their masses? I wonder hehe! Good for those with poor eyesight probably so they could clearly see the priest. I still wonder hehe!

Oh, also like in Tanauan, the stations of the cross are also carved in varnished wood slabs. However, all are just various facial expressions of the Lord instead if the beautiful carved colored tableaus in Tanauan. But I like it that the captions here are written in the local dialect (Waray-waray). And its not just the common daily waray vernacular, it is the kind that is very “deep” kind and would usually be encountered in books and poetry.

Skirted the church and saw that there are big parish offices. There is even some kind of an auditorium or gymnasium. The garden at the back of the church is also spacious and shaded by a lot more trees. Saw some teenagers practicing a dance routine there. Hey, the back and sides of this cathedral also looks clean and good that one might even mistake it for the front!

And then there was the glass tower that took most of my time. No one could tell me what it was originally supposed to be meant for – except for five elderly women who said it was meant to be what it is – a chapel. I do not want to readily believe that though! The tower is circular and three levels high. There is a steel spiral staircase inside and the walls are made of cube class all over. Yep, the glass cubes that you would see in bathrooms and other parts of some houses where the owners want more light but not necessarily seen from outside. For a chapel, the maker and designer must have been stupid enough since it is very cramped even for just ten people to pray. I imagine it cannot also have been envisioned to be a bell tower since the glass would probably break at the sound. I do imagine that the thing would look fantastic when lighted from the inside during the evening since it is glass all over. Ah, whatever that glass tower is/was for, it looks interesting!

Darkness was fast approaching so I walked to the road and hopped on a jeep bound for Tacloban City!

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My Tanauan Visit

Manila to Cebu via Ormoc: Tanauan

Out of the Mac Arthur Park, I rode a trisikad out to the rotunda so I could get a jeep ride going to Tanauan. It was a leisurely ride as I told the driver no need to go fast. Somewhere on that road, I dared exchange places with the trisikad driver. The thing starts heavy but cruises easily once it gets moving. Just the same, I still huffed and panted at what I was doing. The platoons of army recruits jogging in the area even cheered for me to go on. Many of them shouted “go go go, you can do it” and they were all clapping! Whew!

On arrival at the corner fronting the BIR building, I stopped and asked how much. The reply was “six pesos”. I silently protested but did not say anything. Imagine that, if I were the trisikad driver, I would be exerting all my energies on the pedal only to be paid six pesos? But I knew that if I said anything to that effect, it could start them thinking to raise prices and the locals might not like it. Whew!

Okay, hopped on a jeep bound for Tanauan. That is pronounced tan-a-wan, and hey remember I was in Leyte, not Batangas or anywhere else! Purpose? Nothing. Just to roam around hehe. A kid* kept looking at me I was not so sure why. When I would glance at him, he would quickly look elsewhere. I finally caught him and our stares locked, he smiled and asked “you speak English?” Smiling back, I said yes and asked why. His proud reply was “I speak English, we study that in school, I am grade three”! So we talked and I kept asking him about what to see in Tanauan. When struggling for words, he would tug at his mom’s shirt for help. Fun!

Jeep arrived at the market as its final stop. So I got off and crossed to some kind of an “everything you need” store where half is a dry goods store while the other half is a bakery that served snacks and rice meals. It was past 1PM so I had lunch there.

After lunch I rode on a trisikad to the church. It’s an old church but everything inside is now daintily refurbished with modern materials like the floor that slopes down to the altar is all tiled. The altar area floor and walls are marble! Outside, while it has seen some modernization in terms of materials used to probably repair things, I liked it that the total look of the church is still old and unassuming. By the way, the church’s depiction of Jesus’ stations of the cross is uniquely crafted. All are carved from slabs of wood and painted with bright colors. The “frame” of each slab is painted gold and the captions are in Spanish! Nice!

A block away from the church is the municipal park dedicated to Jaime C. De Vera. Funny I have never heard of him so I read the historical marker in the middle of the clean green grass. Okay, he was the first Filipino governor of Leyte and a delegate to the first general assembly and probably a linguist as the slab says “DIREKTOR NG SURIAN NG WIKANG PAMBANSA”. Big trees surround the park and nice to see that some folks there spend their siesta under the trees!

Nearby and facing the park is an old old building though it looks like still in use. The inscriptions at the top says “TANAUAN PRESIDENCIA” Its driveway is used as parking area by a hauling truck. The total look of that façade seem to indicate that no mayor will like going to or coming from it everyday. So I asked a policeman who just finished his meal at one of the shacks across the building. Yep, there are a lot of them makeshift stalls lining the side of the park just across the presidencia and for me they seem to ruin the total calmness in the park. I got my reply from the policeman and was shocked to hear the truth that indeed the building was still the municipal hall. He probably noticed that my face changed when he told me about it so he asked why. I plainly said it was ugly! Then he explained further that the side we were looking at is now the “back” of the municipal hall. Government erected an annex at the back of this old building and made it face the other street parallel to the plaza. That “other side” is now “front” of the municipal hall. Funny! So I skirted the building and yes, it’s a new and handsome-looking municipal hall – probably the only one that faces away from its plaza! Unique eh! Nevertheless, I would say to the mayor “watch your backyard”. Since it faces the park, it should be as clean as the front!

I liked looking around town seeing the many old wooden houses. I do hope they maintain those but I don’t know how since wood really do rot in time! Maybe use cement that looks like wood? Hehehe whatever! Ah there is a new public area by one bank of the river just a step away from the bridge. Could not make out on what it was since I did not stop there. A new transport hub? Well, a few steps from the bridge, I could read the name of one kiosk that says “TANAUAN TOURISM AND INFORMATION OFFICE”! There is a police office, a fire bureau, senior citizen’s office and another in construction. There was a bus yes, but too few people in that area.

2:30PM, time to get out of Tanauan and I had to do some “mental discussion” as to where next should I go! I had many options. Should I hop into the next towns of Dulag, Mayoga, etc?... will there be good accommodations there?... should I go back to Palo and catch a ride to Ormoc?... what do in Ormoc during the night?... or perhaps hop to the northern towns of Sta Fe, Jaro, Carigara, etc?... same question, where do I let the night catch me? Ah the winner… get back to Palo and roam a bit, head back to Tacloban and see what the night can offer there!

So, goodbye Tanauan! I hopped back to Palo.

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