By Lesley Caminade Vestil Cebu City – The contingent from Barangay Apas bested 19 other barangay/groups here bagged the P350,000 cash prize and a handsome trophy during the Sinulog sa Barangay 2018 competitions here. The dancers portrayed ‘Sinug’ or the prayer dance ritual performed by candle vendors at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu. The judges said the presentation of Barangay Apas was realistic and captured the essence of the Sinulog celebrations. One of the judges, Corazon Agustin, was amazed at the production and the smooth transition of the winning cointingent’s presentation. “Clear presentation of the concept and very realistic. Realistic ang kanilang scenes and of course appropriateness ng kanilang costumes, smooth transition yung sayaw nila at ang linis ng kanilang production,” Agustin said. Other winners of the Ritual Dance Showdown were LumadBasakanon of Basak San Nicolas (2nd), TribuMabolokon of Barangay Mabolo (3rd), Banauan Cultural Group of Guadalupe (4th), and BanayLabangon (5th place). BanayLabangon was also awarded Best in Costume while LumadBasakanon also bagged the first place in the street dancing category, followed by BanayLabangon and Barangay Pasil. The show must go on Participants from Barangay Pasil rose above adversity and continued their performance even if a fire destoryed many house sin the area, displacing most of the performers. According to group’s choreographer, Ronnie Roy Ponla, he encouraged all dancers and props people not to give up and continue to present and dance. 30 members of the group decided to pull out as a reuslt of the conflagration. “Huot kaayo amo dughan, ako personally naguol ko tungod sa among na-agi-an perowa mi mag expect nga applauded diay mi sa crowd” (It was heart breaking, I was personally sad because of the incident but we didn’t expect that the crowd applauded us to the last dance.) Ponla said. Barangay Pasil bagged third place honors in the Best in Musicality category and bagged a R20,000 cash prize and a trophy. When Cebu City Mayor Thomas Osmena received the news about the Pasil fire he automatically gave a slot for Barangay Pasil in the grand parade this coming Sunday, January 21. “Karung adlawa nadisgrasya ang usa ka barangay naay sunog sa Pasil so ang tanang contingent dili sila maka perform karung hapon, Pero muhatag ko’g exemption that automatically they qualify to join the main Sinulog Parade next Sunday, para di sila ma alkanse, alkanse pa sila sa Sunog alkanse pas performance.” (Today Barangay Pasil experienced fire so all contingents couldn’t perform this afternoon, but I gave them exemption that they automatically qualify to join the main Sinulog Parade next Sunday.) Osmena said during his speech on Sinulog sa Kabataan. Pasil blaze At around 12:20 Sunday while Sinulog sa Barangay 2018 was at its showdown performance at the Cebu City Sports Center, a fire hit three sitios in Barangay Pasil burning down 300 houses rendering 400 families homeless. The Bureau of Fire Protection declared the fire under control at around 2:54 p.m. Initial investigation led by assistant regional director Supt. Ronaldo Orbeta showed that the fitre was triggered by a 3-4 year old child who was playing with matchsticks. The fire razed houses in Sitios Riverside, Maharlika and Lawis in Barangay Pasil. Damage to property was initially pegged at P3 million. Mayor Osmena immediately visited the area and discussed with residents and concerned agencies releif and rebuilding efforts.