• ANDREW ALTAREJOS

The Municipality of Manapla concluded its 154th town fiesta celebration with the Manang Pula Festival street and arena dance competition held at the Manapla public plaza in Manapla town, Negros Occidental, Sunday.
Twelve Barangays participated in the street dance competition, with separate winners for street and arena dance competitions during the 10-day festivities.
Barangay 1-A was declared this year’s champion in the arena dance competition. The group received the championship trophy and P70,000 in cash prize. It also bagged special awards including, Best in Choreography, Best in Arena Performance, receiving P10,000 in cash prize each and Best in Bernardo Gallo in Charter and received P5,000 in cash prize.
Barangay San Pablo was first runner-up, and received a runner-up trophy and P60,000 in cash prize. It also took home the special award for Best in Costume and Best in Costume Design. Barangay Punta Mesa was second runner-up, and received P50,000 in cash prize and a trophy. It also got the Most Discipline Tribe award and received P10,000 in cash prize.




Meanwhile, Barangay 1 was declared champion in the street dance competition. The group received the championship trophy and P10,000 in cash prize. Barangay 1-A was first runner-up and received P8,000, while Barangay Purisima was second runner-up and received P6,000 in cash prize.
Barangay Punta Salong was Best in Production and received P10,000 in cash, and Barangay II-A as Best Manang Pula in Character and received P5,000 in cash prize. Non-winning Barangays received a consolation prize of P35,000 each and an additional P5,000 in cash each, courtesy of Mayor Manuel Esclante III.
Guests during the highlight of the town’s fiesta were Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, 2nd District Representative Alfredo Marañon III, Sagay City Vice Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva, and Board Member Manman Kho.
Mayor Manuel Escalante III, thanked the different barangays that participated in the street dance competition and was happy with the performances of each contingent which surpassed the previous staging of this festival. Mayor Escalante was assisted by Councilor Mikaela Socorro Escalante during the awarding of prizes to the winners at the town plaza.*