• CHERYL G. CRUZ
For the eighth time, the Enriqueta Montilla De Esteban Memorial High School (EMEMHS) of Pulupandan won the 13th Bago City Invitational Fancy Drill competition, held at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center, in line with the Al Cinco de Noviembre celebration Tuesday.
The performers received P25,000 in cash prize and a trophy, the city said last night, adding that the delegation also bagged the Best in Street Performance, Best in Uniform, and Most Disciplined Unit special awards.
The Lopez Jaena National High School from Murcia town was first runner-up, the same spot they earned during last year’s competition, and won P20,000 in cash prize and a trophy.
First-timer, Murcia National High School, was second runner-up, and took home P15,000 in cash prize and trophy.
The STI-West Negros University contingent from Bacolod City won the Best Platoon Leader, Best in Production Number, and Best Narration special awards, the city said.
In the 26th Sigabong sang mga Kanyon, Cluster 6, composed of barangays Lag-asan, Poblacion, Pacol, and Bagroy, was declared the champion.
First runner-up and Best in Sigabong was Cluster 1 of barangays Ma-ao, Ilijan, Binubuhan, and Mailum; second runner-up, Cluster 5 of barangays Sampinit, Balingasag, Busay, and Napoles; and third runner-up, Cluster 4 of barangays Don Jorge, Alianza, Caridad, and Malingin.
Bago Mayor Nicholas Yulo commended the cooperation of all Bagonhons and guests in the successful staging of this year’s Al Cinco de Noviembre celebration, on the theme “126 Years of Heroism and Nationalism: Advancing the Legacy of Ingenuity and Progress”.
“Nahiwat sang maayo kag damo nag participate, and there’s always an improvement from last year’s activities,” Yulo said.
“Let us continue the responsibility of making sure that progress and prosperity are being reached by Bagonhons and Negrenses,” he added.
The city earlier said that Al Cinco de Noviembre, also known as Negros Day, is celebrated every Nov. 5 to commemorate the Negrenses’ revolt against the Spanish colonizers in 1898.
“The very essence of Al Cinco de Noviembre is the ingenuity and bravery of the valiant hero, General Juan Araneta, and his Bagonhon troops, together with the forces from the north, led by General Aniceto Lacson,” the city said.
Yulo said it is very important that, every year, it is made known that “there is such a man we fondly call Tan Juan, who led Bago forces from the south” in freeing Negros against foreign colonizers. | CGC
