The dancers of the Pomponan National High School during the Binaybayon dance Ritual Presentation (Photo Credit: Jayvee Campomayor of the City Information Office, Baybay City, Leyte)
Pomponan national high school bags it all
Challenged by its loss over Baybay National High School during the 9th Binaybayon Festival in 2016, the students of the Pomponan National High School doubled its efforts and won both the Street Dancing and the Dance Ritual Presentation during the 10th Binaybayon Festival just lately.
Guided by its theme, “Agricultural-based Production with focus on Jackfruit Production”, the students from the Pomponan National High School managed to get the highest score from the judges against the other contingents from Caridad National High School, Baybay National High School and Plaridel National High School.
The Binaybayon Festival interwove the story about how Baybay got its name, its natural resources, the major products it produces, and the veneration of the people to the blessed Immaculate Conception.
Based on the guidelines, each contingent must have at least 70 dancers, but the maximum number allowed is only 100, excluding the props bearers; and there shall be no children dancers who are below seven (7) years old.
The time allotted for the Dance Ritual Presentation at the Baybay Sports Complex is only seven (7) minutes including the entrance and exit. The contingents may use the Binaybayon Jingle in all parts of the Binaybayon Dance Ritual Presentation or they may use natural sound effects and another music related to the theme for the Part I (Occupational Dance Steps) and Part II (Dance Ritual Steps) to further support the theme of the festival, and the Binaybayon Jingle for the Part III (Dance Praise for Thanksgiving).
While to ensure that the participants are guided accordingly, particularly on the basic dance steps, the festival coordinators, choreographers and musicians of all contingents shall attend the Basic Binaybayon Festival Dance Workshop which shall be facilitated by the Binaybayon Festival Working Group at most two (2) months before the contest.
During her message, Baybay City Mayor Carmen L. Cari thanked the City Tourism Officer, Ms. Josefina K. Granada-Gutierrez and her staff for facilitating the conduct of the 10th Binaybayon Festival. She also thanked the members of the Binaybayon Fetival Committee: Dr. Ildebrando Buot, Ms. Thelma Zafra and Ms. Joan Cerna-Rapada; as well as the judges for both the Street Dancing and the Dance Ritual Presentation; the Baybay City Division and the different competing schools for completing the 2017 fiesta celebration by putting up the ritual showdown.
The judges for the Street Dancing Competition were Mr. Ernesto Guarino, Antonio Cinco and Mr. Angelo Manapsal, the Chairperson. They adjudged the winner based on the following criteria: Performance (30%), Creativity (20%), Showmanship (20%), Discipline (20%) and Costume and Adornment (10%). And for the 10th Binaybayon Festival Street Dancing Competition, Pomponan National High School ranked first; Baybay National High School came in 2nd, Plaridel National High School ranked 3rd, and Caridad National High School ranked 4th. However, only the first placer, Pomponan National High School, received the cash prize for the Street Dancing Competition.
The judges for the Dance Ritual Presentation, on the other hand, were Ms. Catherine Vestil, Mr. Angelo Manapsal and Mr. Rene Fervelino, the Chairperson. The criteria they used for judging the ritual showdown were: Thematic Interpretation (10%), Performance (30%), Choreography (30%), Costume and Props (20%) and Overall Impact (10%).
Pomponan National High School also ranked first in the Dance Ritual Presentation and received a trophy and a cash prize; Caridad National High School ranked 2nd and they also received a trophy and a cash prize; while the Baybay National High School ranked 3rd and received a trophy and a cash prize. Plaridel National High School, on the other hand, received a Consolation Prize.
In relation to this, Ms. Gutierrez extends her heartfelt thanks to all who, in one way or another, helped in making the 10th Binaybayon Festival a successful one. She thanked the Philippine National Police, the 78th Infantry Battalion, and the Bus Terminal and Traffic Management Office for ensuring peace and order during the parade and the dance ritual presentation at the Baybay City Sports Complex. But most of all, she thanked Baybay City Mayor Carmen L. Cari, Congressman Jose Carlos Cari of the 5th District of Leyte and the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod for their all-out support to the annual Binaybayon Festival, most especially in the provision of the needed logistics. (Marissa Miguel Cano, City Information Office III, Baybay City, Leyte)
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