By Emme Rose Santiagudo and Francis Allan L. Angelo
After waiting for a decade, Tribu Paghidaet of La Paz National High School is back on top when it grabbed the crown in the Dinagyang 360 Tribes Competition Sunday afternoon.
Choreographed by Errol Jave Villalobos, Paghidaet virtually swept special and minor awards – Best in Discipline, Best in Production Design, People’s Choice Award, Best in Music, Best in Choreography, and Best in Performance.
Tribu Paghidaet’s performance delved into the healing rituals and practices of indigenous Ati culture, and how this pagan faith from folk medicine developed and became united with the Catholic faith.
“The Babalaynans (Shaman) believed to have gained their knowledge and the power to heal from the spiritual world through spirit guides. These spirit guides are always present with them, energizes the shamans, enabling them to enter the spiritual dimension, returning lost parts of human soul from wherever they have gone, to cleansing negative energies, which are said to confuse or pollute souls,” according to a briefer on the tribe’s concept.
The tribe also featured the urunungon, an offertory to the spirits, (after a healing ritual has been done) must be hung in a specified location by the shaman and must not be touched by anyone. The negative energy will transfer to those who will touch it.
Before reclaiming this year’s crown, Paghidaet was also hailed champion in five previous editions of the festival.
Paghidaet is managed by Dr. Teresita A. Torrico-Militar, assisted by Noel Tubungbanua.
Apart from Villalobos, the artistic team is composed of Associate Choreographers Ronel Francisco and Hervin John Catolico, Musical Director Ivan Legada, Production Designers Rey Denzil Gico and Reymond Mo-Oc, Costume Designers Brent Naranja and Jun Ber Larroder, Artistic Director Joemar J. Sustento, and Tribe Leader John Paul Sotero.
Tribu Panayanon of Iloilo City NHS earned first runner-up honors while 2019 champion Tribu Ilonganon of Jalandoni NHS settled for second runner-up place.
Ilonganon won two minor awards – Best in Sadsad (street dancing) and Best in costume design and headdress.
Tribu Salognon of Jaro NHS earned third runner-up honors while Dagatnon of Ramon Avanceña Memorial NHS was fourth runner-up.
GRAND SLAM
Winners of the “Tambor, Trumpa, Martsa, Musika” contest did not come in as a surprise as frontrunners of the annual drum, bugle, and lyre tilt were declared champions in this year’s Dinagyang.
Arevalo Elementary School defended their crown and is the back-to-back champion of the Tambor, Trumpa, Martsa, Musika elementary level.
They also clinched two minor awards namely Best in Music and Best in Performance.
Alibango Central Elementary School was declared as fourth runner-up; Baluarte Elementary School as third runner up; San Jose Elementary School as 2nd runner-up and Mandurriao Elementary School finished as first runner-up.
Meanwhile, Napnapan Elementary School was awarded as Best in Discipline and Mandurriao Elementary School as Best in Costume.
In the secondary level, Dingle National High School earned the honor of being the grand slam champion after securing their third straight championship.
The school also bagged most of the minor awards such as Best in Costume, Best in Music, and Best in Performance.
Iloilo City National High School was declared as first runner up; Ramon Avancena National High School as second runner-up; Tambalisa National High School as third runner-up; and Ajuy National High School ranked fourth runner-up.
A total of 18 schools – 13 elementary schools and five secondary schools competed in this year’s Tambor, Trumpa, Martsa, Musika.
