Gilon-Gilon attracts thousand
TRAFFIC came to a standstill in Dagupan City when 32 dance groups took to the city’s streets in the afternoon of April 23 to reenact a unique dance step simulating movements of fishermen when harvesting bangus, the city’s premier product.
The event was the “Gilon Gilon Ed Baley Street Dancing Parade participated in by all-Dagupeno dancers representing the city’s barangays.
The actual competition took place at the city plaza shortly after the parade where huge delegations from the barangay cheering for their respective teams lustily. Manay Gina de Venecia, Mayor Al Fernandez and Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, chair of the Dagupan Bangus Festival for the third consecutive year, stayed to watch the whole proceedings.
Adjudged winners in this year’s contest were:
Barangay Lucao headed by Barangay Captain Lino Fernandez, this year’s defending champion, was again deemed a heavy favorite this year but the improved performance, costume and choreography of the other barangays posed a serious challenge.
The Gilon-Gilon dance steps were introduced and patented during the celebration of Dagupan City’s Golden Year when it celebrated its 50th charter anniversary celebration whose chair of the executive committee was then Councilor Belen Fernandez.
Moving in cadence to the beats of drums, gongs and bamboo sticks, the dancers, in their indigenous attire, awed an overflow crowd that lined the streets for hours.
Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez hailed the evolution of the unique Dagupeno street dance, which she had patented as chair of Dagupan City’s Golden Year celebration.
She said the contest must continue to produce the best of the best in Dagupan that can compete with the best of the best street dancers in the North.
The presence of ABS-CBN Big Brother top six survivors, namely Melai, Paul, Jake, Jason, Johan and Tibo at the parade sent the crowd swooning.
Meanwhile, some 1,500 karatekas from 25 teams throughout the 23rd Philippine karate Federation Open and Age Group Competition at CSI Stadia from April 21 to 22.
The Mayor Al Fernandez Bowling Cup was also opened at CSI Fun World ion the same day. -LM
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