Sinulog Festival

A YOUNG lass from Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, was chosen last night as this year’s Sinulog Festival Queen.

Iris Mae Liganay, lead dancer of Tribu Sinanduloy, bested 22 other candidates in a program at the Cebu City Sports Center.

As festival queen, 15-year-old Liganay – the youngest in this year’s competition – will receive P30,000 cash, a pair of gold earrings and a 21-inch Samsung television set, among other prizes.

During Sinulog Grand Parade, her contingent will carry the banner announcing that she is this year’s festival queen.

The title adds to Tribu Sinanduloy’s growing list of Sinulog achievements. They had won seven championship trophies in the Sinulog grand parade since 2000.

Liganay wowed the crowd and judges in her pink costume and headdress accented with flowers. She was noted for her grace while she moved and danced around the stage to show devotion to the Sto. Niño, and image of whom she was carrying.

Liganay also received two special awards: Miss Careline and the Miss Casino Femme.

Liganay’s victory meant that out-of-town candidates continue to dominate the Sinulog festival queen competition.

Cebuana lead dancers Rothamae Verano of Abellana National High School and Chelo Mae Timtim of Alcoy’s Siloy Festival were named fourth and third runner up respectively.

The competition, one of the highlights of the annual Sinulog festivities, was attended by more than 5,000 spectators.

The audience included members of the Philippine Visayan Association of Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 23 candidates danced with the Karanaza Performing Arts of Danao City in a production number that opened the three-hour competition.

This year’s candidates were five more than last year’s 18 competitors.

Despite the cool weather inside the sports center, the crowd cheered, screamed and danced while their bets performed on stage for their three-minute production and later solo performances.

Judges in the competition included Miss Earth 2008 Karla Paula Henry, designer Salvador Malto, Rachel “Cutie” del Mar and Power Dance Company founder Douglas Nieras.

Pageant chairman and host Vince Escario said organizers amended a portion of the pageant guidelines to allow contingents to perform their production number with whoever was available as backup dancers.

“Due to poor weather conditions, we have to consider those candidates whose back up dancers were unable to travel to Cebu,” Escario said.

Candidates were judged equally on their beauty and production presentation, which included the contestant’s costume and production number.