Aliwan Fiesta 2008 winners surprises and disappointments
Posted by on May 5, 2008
The Aliwan Fiesta streetdance competiton is finally over. But the talk is obviously not yet over. People still love to discuss highlights and the lowlights of the Philippine’s Grandest Fiesta.
Here are some photos from the recently concluded Alilwan Fiesta 2008:
Three-in-a-row Grand Prize Winner, The Lumad Basakanon group of Cebu Sinulog Festival -
I was kind of surprised whrn they were announced as the winner. The routine is very predictable. The had alsmot the same dance choreography just like in 2006 and 2007. Comstume has some kind of similarity too. The only difference I see this year are the green bananas. They were fishermen last year and coconut harverts in 2006. Hopefully they would try to infuse innovations next year. I love their executions though.
First runner-up Tribu Paghidaet of Dinagyang Festival Iloilo City
While checking the Youtube video sometime last week, I was doubting if Dinagyang could ever pull a surprise win. The rehearsal video was lousy. They’re not synchronized. Not a good team to be declared an Aliwan Champion. But their May 3 performance at the Alliw theater proved me wrong. Pin-sharp accuracy and synchronization is their big gun. Perfect routine. The costume change is I guess unique only to this group. No ther festival I belive, has ever done this in Aliwan. They were the most-applauded group in the 24-team Aliwan Fiesta dance showdown.
2nd Runner up – Sinulog Festival of Carmen Cebu
I have heard about Carmen last January when some camps accused them of copying the concept and costume of Lumad Basakanon who was declared the Free Interpretation Category Champion of the Sinulog Festival. Carmen became the bridesmade to Lumad Basakanon.
Their costume indeed has some similarities to the ones used by LUmab Basakanon, especially the brown skin-tone tights printed with tatoo patterns. Anyway, I don’t have any complains on their choreography. I love it. They were actually my choice ti be the first runner-up. My third runner up choice was Buyogan Festival of Abuyog Lete.
My biggest disappointment – Alikaraw Festival of Hilongos Leyte
I have seen them in Aliwan Fiesta 2007. I have also seen their routine during Sinulog Festival through Youtube. Their Costume during Sinulog 2008, whiwch they also used last May3 is the same. Their routine last sinulog was better than what they had last Aliwan Fiesta 2007. So I am only expecting nothing but an outstanding number from them. But Lo and behlod. They failed miserably. Thye moment I saw their routine, I was already sure that they wont land in the top 3.
Biggest killjoy – The heavy downpour
Just minutes before 4PM May 3, rains started to pour all over Metro Manila. Leaving all the dancers wet, make up and body paints washed from their faces and bodies. While Photographers were scampering for shelter. The hour-long rain has flooded the area where the dancers whould be performing in front of the Aliw Theater. Not to mention the pressbox. I need to wade through a two-inch deep (that’s just an estimate) of flooded water just to get inside the are reserved for press.
Right after the competition, I reviewed my noted and made my own Top 10. I am not sure if am just lucky or what, but 9 out of my 10 top made it. Included in my top 10 which didn’t made it was the Meguyaya Festival. The 10th spot on the winners list was gotten by Disposorio Singkaban Festival of Hagonoy Bulacan.
More photos soon!
sa mga langka gali btw,
WHAT’S THE RELATIONSHIP OF CEBU’S WATEVER BOOMING ECONOMY HERE!?
WE ARE TALKING MUCH ABOUT CULTURE HERE!
WHO CARES ABOUT YOUR RANKS IN THE VERY PRESTIGIOUS RECOGNITION-GIVING BODIES.
BAKIT ANG ECONOMY NIYO BAH ANG NAGPAPATAKBO SA ALIWAN FIESTA???!
sa unang post koh..as I was trying to say, as a photographer mas picturesque parin ang dinagyang costumes kaysa sa recyclables nyo ha! hahahahahah!
go pundit…mga LANGKA gd man na clah…hahahaha..
ECONOMY lang ila pambato…
hahaha…sbhin na nating mayaman ang CEBU,
Kaya marami clang perang pang “SUHOL” sa judges…
hahahaha
iloilo has the best! i dont know if the rumor is true that cebu win because of ace durano… he’s from cebu, ryt? and he doesn’t want to lose tourism in cebu because the number of tourists in iloilo are increasing every year. stil, if cebu had won the grand slam prize, iloilo is still the home of the best festival in the world. don’t include politics in this game! still, ILOILO IS THE BEST!
DENNIS HELLO!!Im am basing my observations on the performance of your sinulog,and Im raising it based on the ff.grounds:first,what is the relevance of monkeys,bananas,and gold costumes to your cultural heritage??how could you interpret that in honor of the SENOR STO. NINO??do they interrelate to one another?? second, the wave wave formation,running here and there,and a recycled performance to the sense of beauty??a repetitive performance already lost its elements of aesthetics!!it is in this area that we suspect something wrong is going on!!cmon!!third, worst in the area of history, for never in the performance of sinulog did it portrayed how your anscestors recieved the NINO from the Spaniards,lastly,and to note too why is it that guitars were not used as musical instruments for it depicts your cultural heritage..SO YOUR SINULOG HAS NO SENSE OF HISTORY,BEAUTY, AND CULTURAL RELEVANCE!!
dennis, dennis, dennis, where you really there last aliwan? have you not seen the performance of dinagyang? because if you were really there last aliwan then you’ll see why dinagyang’s performance is the best.
dennis, dennis, dennis, were you really there last aliwan? have you not seen the performance of dinagyang? because if you were really there last aliwan then you’ll see why dinagyang’s performance is the best.
PUNDIT!Iloilo won best Tourism Event only 2x and Cebu doesn’t mind coz it’s the number 1 tourist destination in the philippines today with more than half a million FOREIGN tourist visited last year. Best tourism event nga wala naman sa 8 best anchor destination in the philippines that includes Manila,Cebu,Baguio,Laog,Palawan,Boracay, Bohol and Davao at kunti naman ang foreign tourist na pumupunta. I want you to know that Sinulog contributed a lot to Cebu’s tourism Industry,that’s why 6 hotels today are under construction in Cebu:
40 floors Crown Regency, 25 floors Grand Cenia, 25 floors Hongkong Plaza, 21 floors Nature’s Hotel, 600 rooms 2(10 floors)Imperial plaza, 22 floors Sofitel Hotel and a lot more (addition of 2,000 rooms) w/c will make Cebu’s total of 10,000 hotel rooms by next year.Wala pa rito ang condominiums and BPO bldgs(at least 20 high rise bldgs). Ano bang meron ang Iloilo? It has less than 2,000 hotel rooms at present. ALVIN, mahiya ka dahil marami pang kakaining bigas ang Iloilo when it comes to the no. of tourist arrivals. Cebu is already an International Destination while Iloilo still competes with the National level.
Buti pa si Mayor Treñas, knows how to accept defeat. Pero kayo!!!!!!!!!! ang titigas ng ulo nyo….he he he….. galing ng Lumad at Carmen… maganda rin ang Dinagyang….well, you can say what you want…. ingatan niyo lang puso niyo dahil talo ang favorite niyo….Hoy mahiya kayo na Dinagyang talaga ang favorite… na amazed lang ang mga tao sa mga aeta dahil marunong din palang sumayaw….. ha ha ha… at maganda rin ang attire ha? ha ha ha.. prepare for the fight next year… knowing Cebu, the dance sport capital of Asia…. di talaga patatalo yan.
bye….
fine…! is that all you have to say?!
my gush you did not even beat a third of our points and opinions.
we don’t deny your point that Cebu really has a lot bigger room for expansion, but why the hell are you pondering these things?
the issue is very simple.
why make it complicated and be so defensive of the fact that dinagyang stole the hearts of the expectators at aliwan and even in other parts of the world…!
we understand that you love ur festival (of course!) but the thing is…you have a great advantage when it comes to your economy yet its not OKAY to accaept all defeats, at all times, at all costs.
You may not know how much we prepare everytime dinagyang comes – hou bongga na kayo, though Iloilo may not be as progressive as you are right now, it is still the original queen city of the south – where one can really find the true sense of rich culture and heritage.
eh sa inyo, ano ba ang hinahabol ng mga IBANG tourista na MANYAK, hahahahaha!
konti lang sa amin yan, pero sa inyo…one of the looming problem of your society, immorality.
Kung sa amin problema namin kuryente, sa inyo, PROSTI;
huwag niyo na kasing palalain pa ang away dito, don’t go any deeper with you point that don’t make up any sense at all.
hindi nga Cebu ang pinepersonal namin, yung questionable system ng Aliwan Fiesta including the judges…ganun!
gets?!
JASON HELLO!!just a bit of information for you to know about the economic prospects of our city.first, we already had a new airport of international standard,once this will be fully operational this will compete with mactan airport.second,the metro iloilo and guimaras council with the backing of foreign donors already came up with a master plan for the economic devt. of iloilo and guimaras.3rd,the entry of megaworld will pave the way to make iloilo be known in the world in the call center industry,to note we have the advantage in human resources compared to cebu in this matter because of our educational excellence.4rt,our festivals like dinagyang and paraw regatta are drawing bigger and bigger spectators and tourists every year!that is why we are the best tourism event and our tribes were asked to perform in other countries to showcase our cultural heritage.and for the record it is boracay who holds the record of the biggest number of tourists who visited the country every year.5th,iloilo is known as OFW country so even if we still dont have industrial centers,we have the buying power here.soon we will have industrial centers,the 1,000 hectares of land in leganes is already waiting, not to count the areas in pavia already identified for industrial centers.OK!!WITH THIS!!ILOILO CITY IS THE NEXT BIG THING!!THE PREMIER CITY IN 2015!!
ED! Nag ilusyon ka na naman, parang dinagyang na gusto mong maging ist prize winner na di nya nagawa for the last 3 years dahil mas magaling ang Cebu. HELLO!!!The “Premier City in 2015″?????Meaning 7 years from now? what??? Baka batukan kayo ng Davao at Cagayan de Oro nyan. Malapit na kayong maging ka level ng Bacolod at the rate going for your info!!! nagpapatawa ka ba? ha ha ha ha…..
1)Metro Cebu is the fastest growing metropolis in our Country TODAY generating much bigger investments in tourism, construction, real state, BPO/Information Technology, Service& Retail than any province in our country. That is a FACT! Hindi natutulog ang CEBU unlike Iloilo na tahimik na at 11pm. BAka di mo alam almost 30 buildings under construction ngayon in Metro Cebu from 10 floors to 40 floors. Iloilo wala ni isang 10 story bldg. AS of now white elephant pa ang airport nyo and that remains to be seen kung when sya magkakaroon ng International flights to compete with Cebu.2) Boracay has more than 200,000 foreign visitors last year(karamihan ay local tourist for your info)while Cebu has more than 500,000 foreign visitors. Mag research ka nga!! Total tourist arrival for Cebu province almost 1.2 million last year. Iloilo has more than 200,000 (more local).3)Cebu is the Center of Education in ViSMIN area. Hello??? ikaw lang nag sabi na ILoilo has excellent education compared to Cebu. What?? Baka batukan kayo ng Silliman, Ateneo de Davao at Xavier nyan. Sa latest survey ng top 20 universities in the philippines walang Iloilo univ na nakapasok while USC ng Cebu ranks number 9.BEst law School VisMin USC.Best Medical School VisMin is CIM or Cebu Institute of Medicine. Mag research ka????ok i think number 2 ang Saint Paul Iloilo sa Nursing at magaling ang Maritime School dyan. But karamihan sa mga Students from VisMin nasa Cebu. UC has a population of more than 50,000 while UV has more than 40,0000. CeBu is the Center of Business and Education in VisMin. That is a fact refer to WIKIPEDIA. So, i know Iloilo will definitely grow but not become the premier province by 2015. Maybe 2030 if Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro slows down. Ask the economist. ha ha ha…
i dont side with anybody here. but one more non-aliwan fiesta-related comment posted, I WILL BE FORCED TO CLOSE THE COMMENTS SECTION HERE.
y the hell are you so bothered with us Ilonggos despite everything you have…?
ika nga eh, no man is on an island alone. aceept the fact that Iloilo exists, hindi pwedeng angkinin niyo ang lahat, we may not be progressive as you are, but at least we have somethings that are boosting our progress and development …
Central Philippine University – 103 yrs
Western Visayas College of Science and Technology – 102 yrs old
West Visayas State University – 106 years old
University of San Agustin – 103 yrs.
University of the Philippines in the Visayas (Miag-ao, Iloilo)- center of UPV system including Iloilo City Campus, Tacloban, and Cebu.
hindi pa yan kumpleto ha! We also have a lot of tourism potentials for development tulad ng Bucari – our little Baguio, etc…
hindi kami namamatay sa inggit sa inyong mga cebuanos, at least kami, more protected pa ang lugar namin – hindi pa masyadong inaabuso para Pag perahan at wala pa kaming mga coal fired power plants dito- u have a lot of projects na nagpapayaman ng mga politicians niyo. haha
mas kailangan nyo naman talaga yang mga “developments” nyu eh, mula pa noon, Iloilo is home to more elite and the upper class pips of the society eh.
example nayan ang mga Lopezes who owns ABS-CBN and etc.
mas maraming pulubi jan kakaawa na nga eh, yan ang mas pagtuunan nyo ng pansin. tingnan nyo naman ang lumalalang sitwasyon ng prostitution jan.
ineenjoy pa naming mga ilonggo kung ano man ang meron dito sa amin, not to mention na maganda rin naman ang mga plano ng city government at may mga investors rin na pumupunta rito at namumuhunan. yan lang ang pinopobrlema namin ang kuryente namin.
period ng awayan.
magtulungan nalang tayo para sa Pilipinas okay!?
huwag tayong impokrito, dapat nalang tayong magpasalamat sa mga biyaya. kaya nga meron tayo nitong religious festivals diba?!
hindi pa naman namin nakakalimutan ang essence ng dinagyang namin eh, kaya nga kami pinagpapala, ang pagkatalo namin sa Aliwan, wala yan! at least #2 parin kami – ang sabi ko nga sa itaas, may appointments pa kami sa ibang bansa eh, hahaha!
1 million pesos is nothing.
dapat kayong mga masyadong nadevelop na, forward looking kayo, hindi crab mentality.
ika nga eh, wag lalaki ang ulo.
malambing naman kaming mga taga-iloilo eh, no worries.
sige na mauna na kayo. we salute you pagid!
wag na tayong mag apihan dito. peace people!
bilang one of The Outstanding Student Leaders of Iloilo City, hanga kami sa inyong mga Cebuano.
We don’t care kung ano pa ang paningin niyo sa amin.
the point lang is, hindi lahat ng bagay maaangkin natin keyso tayo ang nasa itaas.
simple problem lang ito na nag-ugat sa Culture Competition, bakit kailangan na mag lead pa dito.
we ilonggos give back all the blessings we had and our second place recognition in the name of the Lord. Viva Sr. Sto. Nino!
para sa iyo Panginoon ang lahat kung ano man ang Dinagyang, our DEEVOTION, FAITH and PRAISES to YOU are the FOUNDATION of Dinagyang Festival.
A BASTA AKO, NA IINTRIGA TALAGA AKO SA JUDGEMENT NA 4 & 5 SA DINAGYANG.. TATLO NO. 1 TAPOS ISA NO. 2 THEN 4 & 5.. I THINK PARANG QUEST..?..
JASON you are the one who needs more research!!SOON YOU WILL KNOW THE POTENT POWER OF ILOILO CITY AS PRIME MOVER OF DEVT.!!GOING BACK TO THE ISSUE OF ALIWAN 2008 I THINK IT IS BETTER FOR DINAGYANG TO SKIP PARTICIPATING IN THAT EVENT!!CALLING MR. BEN JIMENA,SIR!! THIS IS JUST A SUGGESTION,IN ORDER NOT TO HURT MORE THE SENSETIVITIES OF MANY ILONGGOS.OUR WELL LOVED DINAGYANG IN HONOR OF THE CHILD JESUS DONT DESERVE TO BE TREATED IN THIS WAY!!WORST, IF THERE IS TRUTH AS TO THE ISSUE THAT THIS EVENT IS BEING USED BY MBC FOR THEIR PROMOTIONS!!THIS IS IRRECONCILABLE,A RELIGIOUS CELEBRATION IS USED FOR MATERIALISTIC PURPOSES!!HOPE YOU WILL TAKE A NOTE ON THIS HUMBLE SUGGESTION SIR BEN JIMENA..MORE POWER TO YOU!!STILL HALA BIRA!!
the 4&5 rank was really very questionable…
i was there in aliwan when i saw all the contigents performed.. undeniably, dinagyang was the clear winner… people were so sure that they will bag the crown… but it turned out it was sinulog…
im not sourgraping because dinagyang did not won… im just stating my observations last aliwan.
I would appreciate if everybody would post fair, non-deregatory statements about Aliwan only. The article is about ALiwan therefore non-ALiwan posts are out of the topic.
We are talking about Aliwan, the contigents especially Dinagyang and Sinulog. We are also talking about culture, artistry, heritage and festivals. We are not concerned of Cebu’s economy, awards, feats and achievements. If Ilonggos post that Dinagyang Festival has been awarded the Best Tourism Event in the Philippines for three years now, it is still related to the issue.
The problem with Cebuanos are they easily get sensitive when people says that Dinagyang should have won. Come on Cebuanos, you got the Grand Prize, what is ther to be sensitive of? It is normal that Ilonggos cannot accept defeat because they believe that Dinagyang was better. Nobody was hitting Sinulog when the announcement came that they won. It was only after when people clamored that Dinagyang should have won that some Cebuanos began acting immature and started hitting Dinagyang lovers with immature statements, even bragging about their city’s feat which is again irrelevant to the posts.
ALIWAN FIESTA 2003
2nd Place: Tribu Atub-Atub, Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City
ALIWAN FIESTA 2004
Grand Prize: Tribu Atub-Atub, Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City
2nd Place: Kahilwayan Festival, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo
ALIWAN FIESTA 2005
Grand Prize: Pintados de Passi Festival, Passi City, Iloilo
2nd Place: Kahilwayan Festival, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo
3rd Place: Tribu Silak, Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City
ALIWAN FIESTA 2006
2nd Place: Tribu Ilonganon, Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City
3rd Place: Pintados de Passi Festival, Passi City, Iloilo
5th Place: Kahilwayan Festival, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo
7th Place: Tultugan Festival, Maasin, Iloilo
ALIWAN FIESTA 2007
2nd Place: Tribu Ilonganon, Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City
10th Place: Kahilwayan Festival, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo
ALIWAN FIESTA 2008
2nd Place: Tribu Paghidaet, Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City
5th Place: Saad Festival, Leganes, Iloilo
source: Byahilo.com, Iloilo.gov.ph
That’s what you call a real winning streak, ILOILO’s real winning streak. If all of Iloilo’s Festivals will join Aliwan, i bet Iloilo will dominate the winner’s list. Beat that
I am an Ilonggo. Once and for all, let us all be objective in analyzing the performances of Dinagyang and Sinulog and lets see whether they really deserve the winning positions they got.
Sinulog is a worship festival by the natives of Cebu so its just natural for their dance routines to be a bit slow and dragging. Lumad Basakanon’s performance in Aliwan 2008 has similar routines to their past performances during the years 2006 and 2007. Cebuanos in the forum defends that the repeated routines (circular formation, wave, kneeling down and bowing) are their trademark thats why they keep on repeating it. True that trademark represents a group but it should not be performed over and over again in competitions especially if they are joining the same competition yearly. Trademark routines should only be performed in exhibition dances and not in competitions. Sinulog’s dance routines are simple, easy to imitate for non-dancers and a bit passe’ since these are actually being performed long before since cheering competitions started. But the steps, simple as it may seem, looked superb by the way they executed them. Sinulog had their dancers perform all together in unison thereby giving body to the dance. Its like having one small series of dance steps being magnified into a big series of dance steps because a large number of dancers performed the said step together. In that way, the routine looked clean and the choreography was clearly and neatly performed and noticed. The choreography of another Cebuano contingent (Sinulog of Carmen) had better routines than Lumad Basakanon except for a few who were out of pace in the dancing. But again, both contigents had similar passe routines as the circular formation and the wave. Lumad too did not utilize their oversized props and were left behind the dancers while Carmen had a creative style of displaying their props.
Dinagyang on the other hand is a merry making and worship festival that happens on a certain village or tribe. Therefore, it does not only include the men but also the women and children. In an ati tribe, men are either warriors, laborers or elders while women are either household or industry workers and each job classification performs a different way of worship or merry making. Tribu Paghidaet’s performance is very typical of the occassion, dancers do the transition routines by way of entering and leaving and then reentering the performance area after every routine is done. Dinagyang’s performance had difficult and fast paced steps and the dancers were performing different routines while dancing to the same music at the same time. That in its way is the weakness the judges saw. Since there was only a few number of dancers doing the routines in unison, the dance didnt have the soild body and the choreography went unnoticed. The performance then seemd to look scattered and messy though in truth it was even perfectly organized. Tribu Paghidaet’s utilization of props was very stylish and creative.
Sinulog had very simple steps and passe’ routines but the way they executed steps made it look superb, the dance had a body because the dancers were dancing in unison almost all the time. Dinagyang had very difficult and fast paced steps with complex routines but there was no solid body in the dance because the dancers were performing different routines while dancing together.
Both festivals have their high and low points. But Aliwan Fiesta is not Sinulog or Dinagyang Festival anymore. Aliwan is a battle of festivals and not merely a battle of dance routines and choreography. The judges should somehow understood the story of each festival first (should realize that every festival has its own way of dancing) before casting their judgement to avoid mislabelling a festival routine as messy and unorganized. If the Dinagyang looked messy because of transition (dancers performing differently together) routines and with all the entry and exit, it is because that is the way the Dinagyang is, a tribe with different classes of people performing their own way of worship and merry making.
I suggest that Dinagyang should do a few revisions in their routines and include a routine where all the dancers are performing in unison to give body to the dance. That is what I think the judges are looking for since most of them are dance choreographers. For Sinulog, a dance should evolve and routines should not be repeated over and over again.
With all these bruhaha, after considering all the aspects I have written above, my own set of winners would be:
Grand Prize: Tribu Paghidaet, Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City
2nd Place: Sinulog Festival, Carmen, Cebu
3rd Place: Lumad Basakanon, Sinulog Festival, Cebu City
to redzeitgeist:
1) i never insisted that Dinagyang should’ve won because of its popularity among the audience
2) indeed true, as you have said “having 6 judges weigh the performance will always subject the judging with partiality based from their respective taste and preferences”…. and it is quite evident that the taste of the majority of the six judges eversince was a dance-like performance and not really a typical cultural presentation, contingents have to adjust a bit to these taste to get the nod.
3) performance art can be qualified objectively if one knows the roots of the said performance art. ballet has universal steps but is individualized according to its country of origin. the way one dances and sings and even the type of movies he watch is greatly influenced by its country of origin. Thats why to judge a performance art, it is important to know its country of origin and to what culture it was based from.
to robertson:
Was I not civil enough my friend? isnt it that I was very objective with my comments and assessments? I never hit nor lambasted Sinulog, what I did was assess every contingent’s performance. There was nothing wrong with the way Sinulog and Dinagyang performed, for no one can question their interpretation because they themselves know their festival better than anyone.
I would like to stress my point again, Aliwan is a battle of festivals being staged in another venue and not merely a battle of dance routines. Therefore it is but required that performances from the different festivals should be able to tell other people how their festival goes and not merely presenting a dance routine that is already modernized.
I would like to keep on reminding the organizers and the judges to at least read a primer about the competiting festival, understand it and find out during the performance night whether the contigents were able to represent their festivals properly through their performance or were they just plain dancing and performing a routine that is not even representative of the festival.
What I want to see in next year’s Aliwan? A performance that is very informative and representative of every festival, an entirely different routine from Sinulog contingents. The judges should also assess a contingent’s performance in entirity whether they are truly representative of their festival or not. Dance routines and choreography are merely icing on the cake.
I know Im a bit biased because I wanted Dinagyang to win because I believe they have represented the festival brilliantly with their theatrical way of presentation. Admit it guys, Lumad’s performance was more of dance routines and not an artistic way of representing Sinulog. Or maybe because I myself doesnt know anything about Sinulog on the other hand thats why I thought Dinagyang gave a better representation.
Nevertheless, the organizers should set a very clear, precise and detailed criteria of judging next year. The judges should know the competing festivals more before judging who among them is the best. That way, the Aliwan experience will not only be fun and entertaining but also very informative in knowing the culture of every festival. For I know, Aliwan is staged to showcase to the country and the world the diverse cultural differences in the Philippines.
I am happy that these comment pages are existing, in this way flaws from the past be it coming from the organizers, judges and competitors will be corrected. I despise people (both Cebuanos and Ilonggos and others) in this forum and in YouTube who gives unfair and deregatory comments without even thinking about them. Commenting and criticising should always be done objectively.
I pray that the organizers will have a chance to read our comments, improve the Aliwan next year so that everybody will be happy and contented not only with the results but also with the ALiwan as a whole. Peace out.
ATTENTION CEBUANOS AND FELLOW ILONGGOS:
making comments to the performance of both the Dinagyang and Sinulog contingents doesnt imply anything negative as long as the comments are fair and non-deregatory. I admire those who post constructive criticisms and objective comments and despise those who are idiotic in their messages.
Go defend your festival, just dont underestimate the other and brag about yours.
PAG MAY BASTOS WAG NA LANG PATULAN. LET US NOT SPARK A FIGHT BETWEEN CEBU AND ILOILO.
to Naaliw:
It is very hard to accept defeat in Aliwan especially if Dinagyang has been critically acclaimed by artists here and abroad for its intricate cultural background fused with modern routines, theatrical approach in reenaction and dance and an upbeat music through drums, percussion and indigenous materials.
If Ilonggos cannot accept defeat in Aliwan, it is our problem anymore and Cebuanos should not take it against themselves. If Cebuanos feel insulted by our actions, then we cannot do something about it. Just be proud Cebuanos that you won the Aliwan, for if you cant, then it will only justify our claim. I myself do not hit Cebuanos for their victory although my personal choice is Dinagyang. If there are some lowlifes (Cebuanos, Ilonggos or others) hitting ur festival, i suggest that you do not stoop down to their level and do the same. There is nothing wrong with not accepting defeat among others for as long as it is coursed through a sane and logical manner.
In the first place, as for me, Lumad from Cebu just performed in the Aliwan and has got nothing to do with their victory (except with their performance of course). Therefore, blaming the Cebuanos for their victory is and was not in the Ilonggos’ ala carte menu and should not be tolerated. If Ilonggos then say that Dinagyang was better than Sinulog in the Aliwan, pls. do not take offense in it as it is just our view as Ilonggos and perhaps you would be feeling the same with your Sinulog.
I personally do not hit Cebu or Sinulog in Aliwan’s case. I also do not blame the judges initially for making Sinulog win though they are partly involved. The bigger part of the cake belonged to the organizers for they did not perfectly and precisely qualified and/or quantified their set of criterias for judging. The judges in turn, good as they maybe, should have reevaluated the supposed to be “flawed” criteria and has somehow realized that Aliwan is a battle of festivals and not merely of dance routines. Therefore the catch is to assess a contigent’s performance as a whole, in its entirity, and not just by looking at the way they danced and shouted. For we all have to remember that Aliwan’s goal is “to showcase the culture of the nation’s provinces through festivals to the world”. Therefore, it is but imperative that Aliwan’s criteria should not be based on the sole criteria of choreography (30%), performance (30%), timing & rhythm (30%) and costumes (10%).
Instead, choreography, performance, timing and rhythm should all go together and get 30%, cultural adeptness and festival interpretation should get 40%, overall impact of the performance (whether its choreography and performance jives with its cultural aspect and interpretation) should get 20% and costumes with 10%.
As i would reiterate, to Naaliw’s comment, this does not mean that the judges are undereducated. Yes, Aliwan has lost its credibility because the organizers has repeatedly failed to identify the flaws and misgivings of the activity considering that this year was the sixth year Aliwan was staged.
Yes, it is true that Sinulog of Cebu won and Iloilo’s Dinagyang was only second best for three years. But would it be better if a winner won fair and square in a competition with a criteria that is strict and of the highest standards adhering to the international paradigm of cultural and artistic taste? Is it only the Ilonggos clamoring around or are there others? We dont know. I for once will not feel happy with my victory if I know that people around me are not satisfied with my performance. Yes it is victory for me, but the question is, “Is it sweet victory?”
To Naaliw and other Cebuanos, think again. We should not pick fights and post deregatory statements to each other. Instead, we should all work together, hand in hand Cebuanos and Ilonggos alike, to bang on the organizers and tell them that their criteria needs revision. Manila Broadcasting Company is not a cultural nor artistic company, it deals with broadcast. So it is quite acceptable yet irritating that they are not culturally and artisticaly qualified to set a criteria. Therefore, adhering to Aliwan’s goals of showcasing our festivals to the world, a criteria fit to the goal should be envisioned and realised. For in the end, what is the essence of winning if we only enjoy it only to ourselves and not with others? What use is Aliwan’s goals if the criteria chooses a set of winners thats has no clear representation of its province’s culture.
As simple line to ponder on: “To err is human, but to commit it more than once is inhuman.
lols how come nagiging poeple’s champ yong dinagyang e na tko nga sila ng sinulog e…….. baka ilonggo’s champ lang yong dinagyang……. LOOOSSSEEERRRSSSSSS……..
THIS IS JUST A HUMBLE SUGGESTION!!calling the attention of sir ben jimena of dinagyang!with due respect sir,please stop sending anymore any dinagyang participants to the aliwan festival.with all these kind of deceit,blatant display of arrogance,manipulation and capricious decision favoring the winner for 3 years in a row, let us put an end to this!!it is no longer healthy for dinagyang to compete in this manner.our famous festival who is already world class in her status do not deserve to be treated this way..this is now an issue on the sensebilities of the ilonggo people, so no amount of promotion and cash prize could surmount on this!!thanks!!
Bisan ako Ilonggo mas nami man gid performance sang Sinulog compare to Dinagyang. Graceful gid tulokon mga dancers nila. Bisan guro pasaoton sila na waay naka costume makit-an gid ang consistency & uniformity of body movements sang Lumad Basakanon. Congrats to the winners ah!
We asking the iloilo city council to make a resolution/ordinance to stop sending Dinagyang to Aliwan, kay kon IDFI lang waay gid na sila pulos.
Accdg. to Mr. Jimena maentra sila gihapon sa Aliwan 2009.
to glenn mclife,
do you really know what tikalon means? tsk tsk tsk…
and you say that you won because of your choreography…
tsk tsk tsk
and by the way, this site is to express your disappointment or surprise. not to demean others…
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH ED & MHEL:
ILOILO SHOULD NO LONGER COMPETE IN ALIWAN COZ I THINK THE WHOLE CITY IS SO CONCENTRATED IN DINAGYANG & ALIWAN THAT IT SEEMS THAT THEY DONT KNOW MORE. ILOILO CITY SHOULD FOUCS ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, BUISNESS DEVELOPMENT, IT INDUSTRY ETC.. SO THAT ILO-ILO WILL PROGRESS. I HOPE MR. JIMINEA & OTHER OFFICIALS WILL NOT BE OBSESSED IN DINAGYANG WHOLE YEAR ROUND. I MEAN THERES STILL SO MUCH TO DO IN ORDER FOR ILOILO TO PROGRESS, PROMOTING DINAGYANG DOESN’T JUST HELP IT.I HAVE ALSO HEARD THROUGH A NEWS THAT MOST OF THE CITY’S BUDGET ARE SPENT IN COSTUMES AND TRIPS AROUND THE COUNTRY & ABROAD. YOUR CITY IS SPENDING MILLIONS OF PESOS THAT YOU TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR. YEAH DINAGYANG IS NICE, BUT IT IS NOT WHAT REALLY ILONGGO NEEDS, IT IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR ME. WHYDINT YOU FOCUS ON BUISNESS OR TOURISM PERHAPS.
JUST AN EXAMPLE:
* CEBU FOCUS ON IT INNOVATION MORE THAN 35 CALL CENTERS ARE NOW HERE IN CEBU GIVING A HUNDRED THOUSAND JOB TO THE CITY.
* INFRASTRUCTURES ARE IMPROVING INFACT THE SOUTH AND NORTH RECLAMATION PROPERTIES ARE OPEN AND NOW READY FOR BUISNESS. INFACT FTV AND BIGFOOT FROM HOLLYWOOD IS CURRENTLY CONSTRUCTUING STUDIOS IN THERE MORE BUILDINGS ARE ON THE RISE TOO. ON 2010 THE SUBWAY TRAIN AROUND NRP AND SRP WILL BE FULLY OPERATIONAL, GIVING A LOT OF CONVENIENCE TO THE RIDING PUBLIC. CEBU’S SUBWAY TRAINS WILL BE THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY.
* TOURISM IN CEBU IS BOOMING, IN FACT CEBU IS THE NUMBER 1 TOURIST DESTINATION IN THE COUNTRY. FROM JAN – MARCH CEBU HAPPENS TO ACQUIRE MORE THAN A 1 MILLION FOREIGN TOURIST AND THE NUMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO DOUBLE FROM JUNE-JULY WHERE MOST WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE ON VACATION.CEBU ALSO HAS MORE THAN 6 MILLION DOMESTIC TOURIST EVERY YEAR USUALLY COMING FROM MINDANAO AND OTHER PARTS OF VISAYAS. A VISBLE PROOF OF CEBU’S BOOMING TOURISM IS THE RISE OF 5 STAR INTERNATIONAL HOTELS IN THE CITY’S METROPOLIS. SOME EXAMPLES ARE PARKLANE HOTEL, HILTON RESORT AND SPA, SHARI-LA HOTEL, MARRIOT HOTEL, WATERFRONT HOTEL (LAHUG), WATERFRONT HOTEL (AIRPORT), PLANTATION BAY RESORT AND SPA AND MANY MORE..
THERE ARE MANY MORE THINGS TO DO IN ONE YEAR, DON’T BE TOO PREOCCUPIED BY A FESTIVAL. JUST GO WORK AND MOVE ON!
watch on youtube:
CEBU CITY PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS FOR INVESTORS
Kalma lang arianne!
Watch also the “Iloilo: The Next Big Thing” promotional video in youtube.
I think, city officials are doing their jobs. You can compare the past administration with the current.
Visit the skyscrapercity.com Iloilo threads and find out what are the latest developments in Iloilo and also around the country. This is not the correct site to discuss and debate. You can go to sites with approriate forum threads where you can discuss more things.
lolz sasali pa yang dinagyang, pag ala ng lumad…. alam naman nila na kahit boung contingent pa yang ipapadala nila wala parin silang laban sa lumad……. nakakatawa talaga kayong mga talunan…. another bangongot nanaman ba to sa inyong mga hambog? dami niyo kasing sinasabi nong hindi pa nagsimula yong aliwan 2008….. at nong natalo na kayo haaay dami niyong sinasabi….. crowd favorite daw? kayo lang may sabi non upang matakpan yong masakit na pagkatalo niyo……. yon lang kasi makukunan niyo ng yabang yang aliwan kasi kahit saan department walang wala kayo sa mga cebuano’s……… puro nalang cebu cebu cebu………….
to arriane
i agree with jare,just visit skyscrapercity.com..iloilo thread..so that you will be enlightned..
to arriane
visit this..
http://www.exploreiloilo.com..
JUST ASKING LANG ERIC TOTOO BA 2?
Resulta ng mga judge sa aliwan.
Sinulog:
jugde 1 2nd
judge 2 2nd
judge 3 3rd
judge 4 2nd
judge 5 1st
judge 6 1st
Dinagyang:
judge 1 1st
judge 2 1st
judge 3 2nd
judge 4 1st
judge 5 4th
jugde 6 5th
mAy napansin ba kayo?…
I’M VERY MUCH INTRIGUE WITH THESE RESULTS.. NA E-POST KASI 2..
Ano bang meron sa skycraper.com.iloilo thread? meron bang naka post na 20 story building na under constuction o itatayo man lang? kahit nga 10 story bldg eh wala pa. Meron bang hotel o kaya mall na under construction?.. wala…You compare it with Cebu nasa thread 10 na eh Iloilo nasa thread 2 palang. Cebu has more than 30 buildings na under construction from 10 floors to 40 floors.Nag expand ang SM, AYALA at ELIZABETH MALLS. Before end of the year, another 2 malls will open BOARDWALK and PARKMALL. Under construction din another Robinsons Mall and 10 story expansion of Gaisano Capital. Sana Iloilo mag progress din.When?…….
ALEX@ we have our own development here that is incomparable with your place.you better post it in other site not here!the topic here is about aliwan festival..you have to understand that!!by the way,just to satisfy your hunger to know the truth,you better research more about the economic activity of the nation in general..and asked yourself why is it that there are a lot of poverty stricken families,street children, and prostitutes in CEBU?..you have to look for an answer on this and think!!
i hope someone could answer my questions regarding aliwans results, kasi, parang ZTE SCAM yata nangyayari sa aliwan. kahit anong gawin, hindi makita ang anomally. i think someone s manipulating aliwan..
that why they say aliwan is rigged..
Ed, you are right. some persons here need to research more. Economic indices are only focused in infrastructures.
Although Tribu Alikaraw did not make it to be at the top three.To all the dancers of Tribu Alikaraw;
We all want you to know that we are still proud of you!!!!
Good Luck guys!!!!!
The game is not yet over…..
This is just the beginning.
To all the winners,congratulations and will you all guys stop arguing,it’s over,the objective of this Aliwan Fiesta is to unite not to fight….
We are all Visayans anyway….We should have been proud that top 3 prizes were all from the Visayas….
hi jo, i was the one who posted that. yup! three judges rank dinagyang 1st, one ranked them 2nd, one ranked them 4th, and another one ranked them 5th. i posted that days ago after i saw it in a thread at you tube posted by a cebuano at an ilonggo thread.
cj@ yes its true that our cultural presentation is for unity but as long as there is injustice in this case our longing for unity cannot be materialized.let us face the issue squarely,and address it for the common good!!let justice be served!!
Ed, 1) prostitutes are not enticed to go to Iloilo for many years now because there’s not much economic activity in that area. They will only die in hunger and pockets are empty if they stay there.2)There are poverty stricken families in Cebu (same with Iloilo)as a result of migration from other provinces due to the so called Ceboom or booming economy since the 90′s.3)Cebu has one of the best street children programs in the Philippines (i’ve also seen lots of street children, beggars, aetas in Iloilo City streets). Lastly, what kind of incomparable development????? are you talking about?????????hahahahaha. Are you sure….Abaw gid ya……..
alex@ this is not the proper venue to air your idiotry about cebu’s economy!!the issue here is all about aliwan festival..developing country like the phils. means growth towards the common good not only for cebu, but also in all parts of the country!!hope you get the point now and do not cling to your idiotic and egotistic attitude!!this is bad and detrimental to UNITY!!
alex, iloilo is not a prostitute country.. a foreigner who is now a resident of iloilo said, people of iloilo do not tolerate that such things they do not promote it; women of iloilo do not allow themselves to go with foreigner because it is not a proper way since iloilo still is a conservative place not like cebu. that is why his family likes to stay in iloilo..
unlike his sad experience in cebu niloko lang sya ng cebuanong doctor gusto pang pagkaperahan. pero sa iloilo maganda raw ang trato sa kanya totoong pagtulong talaga sa kanya.. he finds ilonggos though being proud but in general ilonggos are industrious and in many ways, very honest. bla..bla.. sa progress side ng cebu not in iloilo, but staying in iloilo is sweeter than staying in cebu..
and by the way, iloilo as well as some part of panay island is considered a seamans country, narsing country, ofw country a basta mostly my abroad..hindi po baboy ang iloilo na paramihan ang mga anak. iloilo is dominated with under class b category people, kaya tamang tama ang population nito period…..
P.S.
SIGURO MY SWITCHING SA ALIWAN..
i KNOW MY COMMENT WAS THE ONE WHO STARTED THIS. This was the reason why i said that.
I have heard in an ILO-ILO radio station (online) about commentators against the government of Ilo-ilo because your city is investing too much money on your DINAGYANG festival from lavish costume and peops, expensive trips here and abroad and using MILLIONS of MONEY from ILO-ILO GOVERNMENT which the poor people of Iloilo are paying. I mean CEBU, yah is sending contingents too represent CEBU and PHIL. here and abroad but we are just investing enough money but still CEBU GOVERNMENT is not focused much more on promoting SINULOG because thats not a priority same as DINAGYANG. I totally agree with the commentator he said ” There are still many thing to do in ILO-ILO and not just DINAGYANG. Promoting DINAGYANG doesnt give JOBS & LIVELIHOOD or even FOOD to the people”. So YEAH ui agree with him, ACTIVE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY must be prioritized more than DINAGYANG. I have been in Iloilo 3x via land trip going to BORA and really ILOILO has so much to go! Still very far from BEING A SUPERB highly-urbanize CITY. mANY THINGS TO WORK AND IMPROVE ON YOUR CITY.
FYI:
Do you know that MACTAN ISLAND CEBU alone has A 50% higher annual (GDP- GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT) Compared to ILO-ILO city? Ask NSO and you will be amazed how far ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES in CEBU has achieved.This is not bragging it’s just a matter of making you guys realize! Im an ECOONOMICS major,i should know!
FYI ARRIANE, ILOILO CITY SPENT ONLY 3 MILLION PESOS FOR DINAGYANG 2008 AND THE REST IS BEING SHOULDERED BY THE FOUNDATION. DID U KNOW ILOILO DINAGYANG FOUNDATION IS A NON GOVERNMENT ORAGNIZATION? BAKA D MO ALAM YAN.. YAN NAG PAPATAKBO SA DINAGYANG. “Asian Development Bank” CITED DINAGYANG AS BEST PRACTICE IN COOPERATION WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS IN GOOD GOVERNANCE, BECAUSE WITH THE HELP OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEED NOT HAVE TO SPEND SO MUCH MONEY IN ORDER TO RUN THE FESTIVAL. HINDI KATULAD NG FESTIVAL NYO GAGASTOS PA NG 20 MILLION ANG LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARA LANG MA IMPLEMENT FESTIVAL NYO. HAAY.. ARRIANE WAG MONG E DIVERT ANG ISYU SA DEVELOPMENT NEWS NG CEBU, DAHIL D NAMAN YAN ISYU. AND BESIDE HINDI NAGHIHIRAP ANG ILOILO DAHIL SLOWER ANG DEVELOPMENT KUMPARA N U.. IF ONLY WE HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO SUSTAIN OUR FAST DEVELOPMENT, FOR SURE WE CAN COMPETE TO ANYONE.
BACK WITH REAL ISYU, I MYSELF CAN ACCEPT DEFEIT BUT THE DEFEIT THAT COMES FROM A DECEIVING ACTION IS ANOTHER STORY..
SA INYO KAYA GAWIN YAN. ANO KAYA PAKIRAMDAM NA PARANG NA ZTE SCAM NARIN PATI FESTIVAL NYO..