By: Telly Gonzaga-Ocampo
For the last two years, I have not been hearing on the airwaves the Sandugo beat and sound. At the start of July every year, as I could remember, Sandugo sounds and beat can already be felt on the air, and we could dance to the beat we hear. It’s a welcome treat for most people in our community since Sandugo is a community affair that we look forward to. As we celebrated it this year, I can’t help but miss the people who were in the forefront of the Sandugo Foundation those who managed the Sandugo Street Dancing Competition and the Miss Sandugo Search.
I remember the first Sandugo years back, when the OIC governor, then, was Constancio Torralba. We were still based in Tacloban at that time and my eldest daughter, Estela, was in her sophomore year at the University of the Philippines in Cebu for her Fine Arts studies. And we received a call from our mayor, Atty. Felix Uy. He asked me to have my daughter Estela represent Baclayon to the Miss Sandugo competition. The euphoria of the bloodless Edsa Revolution was still fresh in my heart, hence, moved and inspired by that success, I gave my consent to Mayor Uy’s request despite the objection of my husband and Estela herself.
Then In 1995, the Parish of the Immaculate Conception in our town celebrated 400 years of Christianity. We participated in the Sandugo street dancing competition upon the prodding of Nang Carmen “Mameng” Gatal, the President then of Bacrai (Baclayon Church Restorers Association) who was also the Provincial Director of the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government.)
The theme of all our presentations during the festivies was “Baclayon, the Cradle of Christianity in Bohol”. It was a showcase of how our church was built. So we had, for our backdrop, a replica of our church. Everything was voluntary. We had Oscar Real as our choreographer and the students of Immaculata High School as the performers. Elderly people participated in their karaang barro at saya dancing the kuradang. At that time, there was just a promise of funding from the LGU but we were lucky we won. Nakabayad ra gyud mi sa costume sa mga performing students out of the prize money of 30thousand pesos. It was at that time when I found volunteerism at its best from the contingent of Baclayon. It was also in that same year when Baclayon won in the Sandugo Queen competition and the winner was Noemi Naron, now, Mrs. Noemi Naron – Seno of Mandaue Cebu.
prevailed. Wala gyud giuso ang pag-import ug choreographer from Cebu or elsewhere sa among panahon. I think that is not the spirit of the festival which is supposed to be the development of vernacular arts and the promotion of local talents.
As I said, the Sandugo’s sound, beat and rhythm for quite some time was on the air. I think it’s about time for us to know that it was composed by our very own Odoni Pestelos, a young professional graduate from Siliman University. The music has its beat and rhythm that carry you away to dancing as a form of exercise for a septuagenarian like me. Despite my seeming immobility, I can still dance to the tune of the Sandugo.
Can we bring back the “Sandugo of Old” where towns of the province participate and look forward to July each year with eager anticipation?
Can we also give thanks to those who really made Sandugo an institution, regardless of political affiliation?
What do you think?
