Samar’s Tribu Katbaluagan retains Aliwan Fiesta crown

TACLOBAN CITY, April 18 (PNA) -- Tribu Katbalaugan of Catbalogan City in Samar successfully defended their title during the Aliwan Fiesta in Pasay City on Saturday night.

Tribu Kabalaugan’s toughest contender was Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival, a hall famer of Aliwan Festival.

Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan said that their winning was the product of the dedicated performers who worked hard to achieve their goal of bringing home the title once again.

Tribu Katbalaugan is composed of more than 400 dancers and props men from various schools in Catbalogan.

Still a newbie in national competitions, Tribu Katbalaugan made its first appearance in the national scene of festival competition in 2015 when it joined Sinulog Festival, garnering the 4th place. In the same year, the group also bagged the top prize in the Aliwan Fiesta.

“It was a challenge to have won last year's championship more so with this year's win. But because of everyone's continued support, we have made another history for us all,” Uy-Tan said.

The lady mayor dedicated their achievement to St. Bartholomew, the patron saint of Catbalogan.

She added that winning Aliwan Festival this year is an early present for their parish that will celebrate its 400 year in August.

The festival contingent, the sole representative of Eastern Visayas to the Aliwan Festival also won best costume and best music while their festival queen Lou Dominique Piczon was 2nd runner-up for Miss Aliwan.

Dinagyang Festival’s Tribu Salognon bagged the 2nd place while Meguyaya Festival from Upi, Maguindanao ranked 3rd; Sagayang Festival from Datu Piang, Maguindanao was 4th place; and Niyogyugan Festival of Quezon Province was the 5th place.

“Their victory brings pride and joy to the people of Catbalogan City, Samar province and Eastern Visayas. It also reinforces our claim that Eastern Visayas is the national home ground of national festival competition champions,” said Department of Tourism Eastern Visayas Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes.

Buyugan Festival of Abuyog, Leyte and Lingganay Festival of Alang-alang, Leyte are some of the top festival contingents in the region that had bagged top awards in various national festival competitions like Sinulog Festival and Aliwan Festival.

“The DOT takes its hats off to Catbalogan for bagging the top award at Aliwan. After seeing their performance we are confident that they would retain the their title as champion, their choreography, smooth transition, precision and dazzling performance vibrant costumes, highlight use of props and the dynamic musical accompaniment spelled their victory,” Tiopes added.

Organized by the Manila Broadcasting Company, Aliwan Fiesta is an annual event that gathers different cultural festivals of the Philippines in Star City Complex in Pasay City wherein contingents compete in dance parade and float competitions, as well as in a beauty pageant. (PNA)
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