Last week,
the BMG Manila team (that includes me!) flew all the way to Cebu to join the
prestigious 6th Queen City of the South Dancesport sa Sugbu
competition. When I first heard that we are participating in this event, I was totally
psyched that I'M COMING BACK TO CEBU!!! I’m madly in love with Cebu. The place is like a laid-back, peaceful,
and cleaner version of Manila. I am seriously considering moving here, haha!
The
competition was held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Lahug last Saturday, September 14. If
you saw the Philippine Starball on TV a few years back, you’ll have an idea as
to how grand this event is. Dancers from all over the nation came to Visayas to
showcase what they do best. It wasn’t just participated by dancers, but
adjudicators—Pinoy and foreign—traveled all the way here as well. And of
course, spectators from all over the Philippines—just like my mom and my sister!
 |
| my ever-supportive family! |
We arrived
in Cebu two days before the actual contest to give us some time to practice
there. The night before the competition, we checked in at Waterfront Hotel. I
spent not a penny for the accommodation, thanks to my generous coach. Isn’t
life beautiful? Haha! I love being a dancer!
 |
| our Deluxe Twin Bed room at Waterfront |
By lunchtime, we were already prepped up and warmed up and ready to dance!
Aside from the fact that I was thrilled to explore Cebu once again, I was also excited to meet the best dancers of Cebu and wage war against them on the dance floor. In case you don’t know, Dancesport Team Cebu City houses perhaps the largest number of dancesport athletes in the Philippines—from the 6-year-old juvenile levels to the men and women in their forties in the senior categories. They’re all incredibly talented dancers, thanks to the city government’s tremendous support for this sport and art.
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| some Cebuano friends: Lark Jabonero and Mis Mis Ferrer |
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Two Samsons: Pepe Samson (BMG Manila) and Samson Orlanes (Dancesport Team Cebu)
|
Anyway,
the program started at 8 a.m. with the Modern Ballroom categories. Too bad we
were busy prepping up that time so we weren’t able to watch. As with all competitions, floor rehearsals are conducted before the actual rounds so that dancers could get a feel of the floor. I found the floor of Waterfront Hotel's Pacific Grand Ballroom too slippery! Or maybe I just need a new pair of shoes.
 |
| dancers (or maybe it's just me) struggle on the slippery floor of the Pacific Grand Ballroom. LOL |
Around 1
p.m., the Latin rounds began. My real partner Ronna couldn’t make it to
Cebu, so I dragged Krizzia in this mess in the meantime, haha! With only about
six days of practice, we braved the consequences and joined the 2-Dance and 3-Dance
Open categories (we only finished our Jive routine the night before!!!!). In both
events, we were able to reach the Semi-Finals from Round 1 and Quarter Finals.
Not bad, I think. Though I awfully wanted a medal. Haha!
 |
| Krizzia the Eksenadora |
By night-time,
the 4-Dance and 5-Dance events began. The champions for the 4-Dance Latin
category are from our team, BMG Team! Isn’t that cool?
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| Champions in 4-Dance Adult Latin: Benjamin Legaspi and Rochelle Canoy from BMG |
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| Samson Orlanes and Mae Pabuaya - Cebu |
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| Eo Rendon and Mary Desiree Seraga - Cebu |
I think
the awarding ceremony ended at 1 a.m. All in all, that’s a 13-hour event. Isn’t
that crazy?! By the time the winners were getting announced, I was upstairs in
our room taking a hot bath! Haha! I’m sorry if I’m such a useless correspondent,
LOL. But I do know who got into the Top 3 of the Amateur Open Latin event:
1. Michael Angelo Marquez and Stephanie Sabalo - Manila
2. Wilbert Aunzo and Pearl Marie Caneda - Cebu
3. Roque Marquez and Rhea Marquez - BMG (I'm a proud teammate!)
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| BMG and Team Cebu |
Although we
didn’t make it to the Finals, I was happy to have danced with really awesome dancers from around
the Philippines. Imagine how passionate we dancers are: we travel to some faraway
region, pay for airfare, pay for registration, pay for hotel accommodation,
with no assurance of winning. And even if we win, there’s no cash prize. But still
we compete. Still we participate. Because doing so creates a better, friendlier
dance community. Because doing so improves us, our skills, our talents, adds so
much more to our experiences.
And exclusively
for me, it’s because doing so will enable me to go back to my favorite place in
the Philippines: Cebu.
Congratulations, Dancesport Team Cebu City for organizing such an awesome event! Congratulations also to all the participants winners! Until next time!
Watch out for more of my recent Cebu trip in my succeeding posts!
~*~
Waterfront
Cebu City Hotel and Casino
Salinas Drive,
Lahug, Cebu City
(right
across the IT Park)
(02)
232-6888
Facebook: Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino
Don’t miss any of these posts in the Cebu 2013 series:
- 6th Queen City of the South Dancesport sa Sugbu Open Championship
- Fab Finds Friday: 4 Desserts from Cebu Worth Traveling for
- Where to Eat in Cebu: Lantaw Floating Native Restaurant
- Confessions of a Non-chocoholic: Tablea Chocolate Cafe in Cebu
- Only in Cebu: Larsian sa Fuente
- Where to Eat in Cebu: Hukad sa Golden Cowrie
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