BCS Dances to Victory; Tococ NHS Claims Five-Peat Trophy
by Ralph Michael Tumaneng, Samantha Claire Butuyan, and Hannah Jemina Calimlim

Flaunting their synchronized choreography, vibrant costumes and props coupled with breathtaking routines and movements, the street dancers from Bayambang Central School (BCS) and Tococ National High School made their way to snatch the championship trophies in this year’s street dancing competition (elementary and secondary categories respectively) as part of Pista’y Baley celebration last April 1.

BCS, under the leadership of Dr. Sherlita F. Baratang, rose among the four street dancing entries in the elementary category, clinching the first-ever championship in the said category.

Tococ NHS, led by Dr. Confucius Cristobal, gave the spectators a jaw-dropping and precise exhibition of moves and grooves to retain its championship title in street dancing tilt in a five-peat record.

The street dancing competition is one of the regular activities in Bayambang’s Pista’y Baley 2019 celebration. Anchored on this year’s theme: “Bayang Pinagtibay ng Pagkakaisa at Pananampalataya Laban sa Kahirapan,” each team in both levels portrayed the values of unity and faith as trademarks of Bayambangueños.

Most of the street dancing teams also highlighted through their creative suggestive routines, props, and instrumentals, the municipality’s flagship program which is the Rebolusyon Laban sa Kahirapan. Earlier, the Local Government Unit of Bayambang gave each participating school some seed money worth Php200,000 each.

Tococ NHS street dancers exhibited their signature dance moves as they grooved to the beat of the drums incorporating unique portrayals of the different ways to address the poverty in Bayambang such as a tractor that embodies the ongoing farm mechanization program, disaster risk reduction management, and the propagation of agri-aqua culture here in the municipality. Like their performance last year where they made use of a giant eagle as their remarkable symbol, they reenacted the building of the colossal St. Vincent Ferrer bamboo structure in honor of the quadricentennial anniversary of the parish and in commemoration of the 600th death anniversary of the town’s patron, St. Vincent Ferrer.

Meanwhile, the best street dancers in the elementary level, the BCS dancers, proved that they could line up with the seniors in the competition as they showed that they’re ‘small but terrible’ when it comes to dancing, with their enormous props like the globe that showed Bayambang as a well-diverse, successful, and globalized municipality that will be free from poverty in next few years. In addition, they also showcased a world-class dance that originated in the town which is the ‘Binasuan.’
In recognition of the winners’ superb and excellent performances in the showdown, LGU-Bayambang and the Bayambang Municipal Council for Culture and Arts gave Php200,000 and trophies to the champions for both Elementary and Secondary categories.

The runners-up in the High School category were Bayambang National High School, which won Php150,000 and a trophy for being the first runner-up, and the St. Vincent’s Catholic School of Bayambang, Inc., which received Php75,000 and a trophy. The runners-up in Elementary were St. Vincent’s Catholic School of Bayambang, Inc., which also won Php150,000 and a trophy, and Sapang Elementary School, which also received Php75,000 and a trophy. The non-winners each received a consolation prize of Php50,000.

Moreover, as part of the fiesta opening’s special awards, Bayambang Central School was declared the champion in the Best Float contest and received Php25,000, Saint Vincent’s Catholic School of Bayambang, Inc. won the second place and got a cash prize of Php15,000, and Bayambang National High School got the third spot with Php10,000. In the Best in Streetdance Parade, Bayambang I Central School and Bayambang National High School got the award for the Elementary and High School level respectively, with a cash prize each of Php15,000.

The principal of the grand slam team could not hide and contain his emotion as it was the school’s 12th championship title and their fifth straight one and told the press their secret in winning. In an interview, Tococ NHS Principal Dr. Cristobal said, “Itong trophy na ito ang pang-12. At sa tingin ko, ang sikreto ng aming tagumpay ay ang mga guro (ng TNHS). Hindi kami kumukuha ng mga taga-labas. Pawang ang mga guro lang namin ang gumagawa ng konsepto at mga routine ng mga bata.”

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