ANGELES CITY- Five schools from this highly-urbanized city have bagged numerous awards from the most anticipated 20th edition of Sinukwan Festival, an annual feast celebrating the colorful and glorious Kapampangan culture, arts and tradition.
During the Street Dance and Free Interpretative Dance competitions held December 2 at the Robinsons Starmills and Pampanga Capitol grounds, the performers wowed the expectators with dance interpretations inspired by the Angeleño culture and practices.
Angeles City National Trade School (ACNTS), a tough contender in the competition, was adjudged as the over-all champion of the festival as it bagged all major awards under the Level 2 category.
ACNTS was awarded Best in Festival Costume, Best in Head Dress, Best in Street Dance, and the Best Group Dance that interpreted and highlighted the Angeleño way of preparing and cooking sizzling Sisig, choreographed by dance coach Raymond Mangilit.
Also, the Achievers Special Education Center (ASEC) of Angeles City marked a milestone in the festival by receiving the Hall of Fame Award for winning three consecutive years under the Free Interpretative Dance, Level 1 category.
ASEC has been consistent in its winning streak as it features dance presentations inspired by the city’s GraciAngeles Festival choreographed by trainors Elizabeth Ann Lao and Rasell De Luna.
The institution also won champion for its GraciAngeles-inspired Angel Head Dress and third place for the Best in Costume.
Meanwhile, neophytes from Gueco Balibago Elementary School (GBES) won champion for their street dance and dance interpretation of the Salakot Festival which is an annual cultural festivity in Barangay Balibago held every December.
GBES also placed second for the costume and third for the best in head dress.
Another newbie contender in the festival, the Cutud Elementary School, also earned various awards for the group’s interpretation of the La Naval Fiesta of Angeles City. The delegation won first place for the costume, second place for the worn head dress and the free interpretative dance, and third place for the street dance.
Cutcut Elementary School, on the other hand, shared an angel-inspired dance piece with the inclusion of the village patron saint Apung Roque as the highlight.
Sinukwan Festival is a weeklong celebration of Kapampangan tradition and heritage. Spearheaded by the Foundation for Lingap Kapampangan Incorporated (FLKI), the festival aims to recapture and strengthen the Kapampangan spirit through a sundry of events that highlight Kapampangan artistry and ingenuity.