CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña vowed to give more financial support to local contingents in next year's Sinulog festival.

This, after learning that out-of-town contingents clobbered all the major awards in last Sunday's Sinulog Grand Parade.

"We shall give more support. We have to realize that Talisay City spent P5 million and Tangub also spent a lot of money," he told The FREEMAN in an interview.

He said he will still have to evaluate if there's a need to increase the subsidy given to the local contingents.

Lanao del Norte got the top prize for the Sinulog-based category, while Tangub City was adjudged the best in the Free Interpretation group. Catbalogan City was awarded as "Best in Street Dancing."

These three out-of-town contingents got P1 million each for the award. This is on top of the special awards they also received.

Osmeña was rooting for Lumad Basakanon from Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City to win but said the group "did not give their all last Sunday."

"I saw their performance last week. They were so good. I expected them to win last week. But (last Sunday), mura’g naay kuwang. They were not so crisp ba. They were not that synchronized. They did very well last week. I was so impressed. But now, I don't know. They look tired or something," he said.

Osmeña said it helps if contingents are well-funded, like those out-of-town contingents.

Barangay Basak San Nicolas councilor Norman Navarro, one of the choreographers of Lumad Basakanon, admitted that the group failed to conceptualize a better storyline.

Navarro vowed to bounce back next year, as the group was also dethroned in its usual award as best in street dancing.

"Lipay gihapon ang grupo kay kita gihapon, ang Lumad maoy top sa local," he said.

Walter Betito, one of the Sinulog choreographers, said it will always be better if local contingents will be supported by the local government units.

Betito has been a choreographer for 30 years. He has choreographed several contingents like the Abellana National School, Municipality of Asturias, Tangub City, among others.

"Mas maayo gyud naay increase sa subsidy every year kay nagkadako ang gasto and nagkamahal ang palitonon," he said, adding that local contingents are getting P300,000 for joining the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan or Sinulog sa Barangay and the grand parade. (FREEMAN)