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!
I believed “unity” can only be achieved if Iloilo fanatics to their Dinagyang will concede defeat to Sinulog/Lumad. He he . Hirap kasi pag talo ng 3x. Nakakainis grrrrr…Kinuha na kasi ng Cebu titles from Iloilo.. Queen City of the South (Cebu), Aliwan Festival Grandslam (3x undefeated Cebu), no. 1 tourist destination in the philippines Cebu, Fastest growing economy Cebu, Center of Education, culture and arts in the Visayas and Mindanao Cebu, biggest tourism event Cebu. Meron din naman kayo best tourism event 2x…but… watch out! Cebu will get this title this year… Cebu works 24 hrs… it never sleeps…..hmmmmm…I’ll be in Iloilo next wk..See you….Honestly, i also like Iloilo next to Cebu. Thanks
ha?!? i thought this site was about aliwan? what has GDP got to do with it? and by the way, since we have access to the internet… please check the meaning of grandslam… hay… do i have to explain it again…
yeah!! kahit konin nyo pa lahat cheater!, corrupt!.. no wonder pa cheater!
so nice to see the comment section open.
Its obvious na lahat ng comments ng makasinulog puro not related sa performances.
Namemersonal sila..
Masbi ko lang sa inyo na. Panuorin niyo paulit ulit ang perfromance nga lumad baskanon for the past three years. Enumerate niyo kung ano ang bago sa sayaw nila.
cebu sinulog choreography is the same when you watch the closing ceremony of an olympic event…malapit na ang beijing olympics, and try to see the highlights of the event. sure as rain, indi maglayo ang performance sang sinulog sa dance choreography.
wa jud ko na lamian kanang Lumad performance… mau man jud sayaw nla sa tulo ka tuig… na ulaw na ko gni… lami pa ang dinagyang, lahi lahi ang performance every year…
agree jud..next year we expectating to see new and refreshing dance from sinulog contingent.
as i said before if this controversial issue is not addressed properly by the organizers and the judges, sinulog will end up as the winner for the next century even with their mediocre and rubbish performance!!
wake sinulog,innovation is badly needed.
hello…..
if Lumad Basakanon is not entitled to win, who will it be? i guess creativity would always mean a lot when it comes to rituals, but as they say, a history will always be iontact, preserving a culture ion not just having it with the real; costume or so, as long as you dance with what should be, then its good at least…
and kultura po kasi natin ay iba-iba,
try to go to Nueva Vizcaya… a rich haven of cukltures from different points of Luzon. Nueva vizcaya is a hidden wonder where everyone should go forth.
Streetdancing in Nueva Vizcaya is one of the richest in cultural preservation. i guess many would wonder5 why.
so far, Visayans are relly good, they are one of a kind, i do hope one time they will be given the chance to showcase their heroic, fantastic and incredible performances….
Congratulations to Ilo-ilo and Cebu…
you both desrve your places, but of course, Judges are held responsible for the winner’s seclectiopn and participants must obey…
a real winner dosen’t say anywords, but do words by actions.
VIva Sr. Sto. Nino….
cge go, after all ive heard about this topic, i realize na grabe, its totally nonsense! i guess lumad will not anymore compete in aliwan, so dinagyang do nothing because you’ll surely win. cge cebuanos, stay away from aliwan or anything that pertains to “national” because i guess we are creating our own enemies, and sadly its within our group of islands, daghan na kaayong nasuya sa cebu. don’t be selfish na and give it to the one’s that needs a name for their own fame. so let it be that you are fastest growing economy in the country that even surpasses the rest of the country. let it be that you are the richest province in the whole country. the number one province! basta just move forward, mind your own business and soar high. i guess cebu doesn’t need to prove much for this country because it has already earn a spot.
mga ilonggo para kayong si Dela hoya, ang yayabang niyo! kaya na tko kayo sa aliwan wahahahahaha….
basta cebu no. 1!!!!! wahahahahah
kaya palaging nandito si paquiao kasi alam niya na pang world class yong mga cebuano at born to be champions ! wahahahaha
vainglory..dinadaan sa daya.
Nakakatawa nga eh, 3 times repeat performence saan nga ang standard dyan ng competition? at magtataka ka talaga bakit nga nanalo people will think,,, something wrong nga sa mga judgement. 3 times champion daw repeat performances hay nako kayo nalang ang magisip hindi ko kasi maarok ang mga hurado diyan kasi nagtaka ang lahat sa 3 times na yan na repeat performances at panalo at hindi lang Ilonggo ang nagtatanong nyan lahat ng mga audience mismo.
their something wrong with the system.
basta tultugan ayos????
try keung punta sa min lapit nah!
next month na dec.26 come and enjoy!!!!
with our festival in maasin iloilo!!!!
a bamboo capital of panay!!!!!!
ayos diba????
punta ulit kami jan sa inyo
bot kung kelan basta ait our tribu?
hahahahahahahahahha………..