NOTWITHSTANDING the rain, Laoag City and Candaba, Pampanga emerged the happiest delegations in the Festivals of the North on April 27 after winning the top prizes in the city and municipal categories.

The Laoag City group performed their Pamulinawen Festival dance while Candaba showcased their Ibon-Ebon Festival during the street dancing competition held at the Dagupan City Plaza as part of the ongoing Bangus Festival.

Both won P200,000 each.

Meanwhile, the street dancers from the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City and the Tribu-Pandan from Mapandan in Pangasinan, both participating as guest performers, mesmerized the huge crowd.

Iloilo is the champion street dance troupe in the Visayas while Trupa Pandan was the 2008 Bangus Festival champion and this year’s centennial champion in the Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City.

Laoag City received an additional prize of P20,000 for “Best in Choreography” special award. Candaba, a first-timer in the Festivals of the North, also won P20,000 for the same special award in the municipality category.

Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. and Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez presented the cash prizes.

Host Dagupan city’s Bangus Festival was second place and won P100,000, trophy plus P20,000 for “Best in Costume”; Pindangan Festival of San Fernando City, La Union placed third, P75,000; Mango, Bamboo Festival of San Carlos City, P50,000; and the Binatbatan Festival of Vigan City, P30,000.

Other winners in the municipal category wer the Guling-Guling Festival of Paoay, Ilocos Norte, P100,000, trophy plus P20,000 for “Best in Costume”; Corn Festival of Sto. Tomas, Pangasinan, P75,000; Patopat Festival of Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, P50,000; and Banga Festival of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, P30,000.

Participants who didn’t win were awarded P10,000 each.

The other participants were street dancers from Candon City’s Tobaco Festival and Bolo Festival; Binmaley’s Sigay Festival; Sto. Tomas, La Union’s Daing Festival; Calasiao’s Puto Festival; Bayambang’s Malangsi Festival; Pinili, Ilocos Norte’s Garlic” Festival; Masinloc, Zambales’ Dinamulag-Bamboo Festival; Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte’s Kurarapnit Festival; Naguilian, La Union’s Basi Festival; Umingan’s Kalan-say-Payyak Festival; and Urbiztondo’s Kawayan Festival.

Television heartthrobs Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes thrilled the audience with their dance and song numbers.

The initial presentation at the plaza was rained out but the sky finally cleared after five delegations have already performed forcing judges to adjust ratings for the set criteria accordingly.

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