Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe, Sinulog 2020 Grand Prize Winner's Creative Journey

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“Seasoned dancers, matured movement capability,   movement pattern is very clean. A million peso performance, a total package, they have mastered the art of performing on the street.”  Head judges Dr. Lordinio Vergara of the Street Dancing Competition and Dr. Larry Gabao of the Sinulog Based Competition of the Sinulog Festival 2020 said on the performance of Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe.  Once again, after a two-year hiatus, the Troupe made a very confident comeback to claim the position it held in the previous years.   

    For the Troupe members who called themselves the dancing pilgrims, Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe is more than an essay of graceful movements and world class performance.  It is a story of rigorous discipline, relentless pursuit for perfection, changed lives and fulfilled dreams. 
    Conceived 27 years ago, the Troupe started as youth program initiated by then first lady Jennifer Wee-Tan.   She saw the youth as the city’s ambassador of goodwill who would perform before the city’s important visitors.  The Physical Education teachers, dance enthusiasts, and individuals who were interested in dances and cultural activities volunteered their time and services helped organize and institutionalize Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe.    The trainers were sent for training in ballet, jazz, modern, folk and street dancing in Manila. They also attended workshops at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and other folkloric groups.  They researched on dances and rituals of the Subanens and mounted productions.  
    The dancers went through audition.  Character building and discipline were the bedrock of their training.  They were taught professionalism and emphasized punctuality, respect, politeness and courtesy; they were dealt with accordingly when late during practice.  Above all, they were always   told to remain humble whether in defeat or in victory. 

    Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe was tailored for the youth to keep them from the lure of vices and indolence.  With the consent and support of parents, the kids who were in need and have proven themselves were granted scholarships. Many of those without parents and families found support and belongingness in the Troupe.  Since the time scholarship was made available, thousands have already graduated and leading productive lives.  Besides the practice of their profession, many are also earning on the side as dance trainers, makeup artists, stylists or choreographers. These are skills they learned being with the Troupe. 
    The city government, on the other hand, has put in place logistics or system in Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe’s operation.     The city has a calendar of activities for the Troupe’s activities.  It is like a program that once an activity is scheduled, the program just needs to be switched on, and all systems go: rehearsals, transportation, food, costume, supervision, medical support, and etc are set in motion. However, one very important thing the Troupe can rely on is the volunteerism of its trainers and the relentless pursuit of its artistic director, P. Emelio “Jojin” Pascual, for pushing the frontiers of artistic expression, for risking or innovating on what has not been tried before. And the risk was always worth it.  

    The Troupe’s journey for the past twenty-seven years was fraught with untold humps and bumps. But with experience and practice, the more than a hundred persons involved and with various needs to be attended to, the operation became well - coordinated. The exhausting work through the years always paid off because of the voluntary spirit and passion put in by everyone involved.   The total package performance, the seasoned dancers with graceful and mesmerizing but clean movements are but reflection of the commitment everyone had put into the Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe. 

AWARDS THROUGH THE YEARS

Sinulog 2005

Sinulog 2006

Sinulog 2009

Sinulog 2011

Sinulog 2015

Sinulog 2016

Sinulog 2017