• ANDREW ALTAREJOS
Base-AO Del Jaena was declared the champion during the “Sinigay sa Sagay…Saot Para sa Dunang Manggad” street dance competition held in Sagay City, Negros Occidental on March 19.
Using the “mangrove” as its icon of advocacy, the group composed of clustered barangays Bato, Sewahon, Taba-ao, Plaridel, and Lopez Jaena, emerged as this year’s champion.
It also won several special awards, namely Best in Costume, Best in Choreography, Best in Endurance, Best Choreographer, Best Designer, Best Visual Artist, Best in Props, Best in Recycled/Upcycled Accessories, and Advocate award for Hara.
Bumavira Uno, composed of clustered barangays Poblacion 1, Bulanon, Vito, Rafael Barrera, and Maquiling, took second place.
It won special awards Best in Headdress, Advocate award for Hari, Sinigay sa Sagay – Hara, Sinigay sa Sagay – Hari, Best in Sinigay sa Sagay Hara Costume, and Best in Sinigay sa Sagay Hari Costume.
Tribu Old Maluri Himogbay, composed of clustered barangays Old Sagay, Malubon, General Luna, Rizal, Himogaan Baybay, won third place.
Gwen Chrisbelle Velado and Dan Gabriel Cuenco, both representing Bumavira Uno, were crowned this year’s Hara kag Hari Sinigay sa Sagay Saot Para sa Dunang Manggad.
The festival, now on its 28th edition, promotes the protection of the environment, especially marine life, as Sagay City is home to about 32,000 hectares of territorial water declared as protected seascapes.*
