Tribu Lumad Basakanon’s accomplishment brings hope and inspiration to other Filipinos to aspire for honor and pride, not only for themselves but for our country. The group’s laudable performance will encourage more tourists to visit Cebu and neighboring tourist destinations to experience for themselves our rich history, culture, and heritage, and the pride of place and unwavering faith felt by Cebuanos,” DOT secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said in a statement.
Frasco said the victory also shows that Filipino dancers are world-class performers and the country's rich heritage and culture is something Filipinos can be proud of.
“The Tribu Lumad Basakanon has proven that Filipinos are indeed world-class performers. The group brings pride to the Philippines and contributes greatly to our country’s efforts to highlight our rich cultural heritage through festivals,” Frasco added.
She said this victory should be the start of promoting more of the country"s rich heritage and culture overseas.
“This recent victory of the Tribu Lumad Basakanon at the Powerful Daegu Festival provides a platform to further promote this Philippine heritage and time-honored tradition,” she said.
Earlier, the 23-piece ensemble beat other international street dancing contingents, such as second placer Mongolia and special award winner Indonesia.
The Powerful Daegu Festival, formerly known as the Colorful Daegu Festival, offers performances and art from Korea and worldwide. It also features a variety of street performances, with the highlight of the festival being the parade.
In the event t, he group performed a dance number featuring the Cebuano devotion to the Senor Santo Niño through the traditional Sinulog.
The group got the chance to compete in South Korea after they won the virtual competition last year.
Reports said four Philippine groups passed the qualification round.
But the Basakanons were eventually chosen as the country’s representatives since they were also the Free Interpretation Category winners in the Sinulog Festival 2020, the last competition that the Cebu City government and SFI organized before the pandemic hit.
In 2017, the group also won a bronze medal in the World Wonju Dynamic Dancing Carnival in South Korea. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)
Eve of Festivals in Daegu South Korea I Lumad Basakanon