CEBU CITY – Intermittent downpour did not dampen the spirits of over 10,000 performers from 51 contingents who took part in the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2024 on Sunday, August 25, at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) here.
SHOWCASING their light-emitting diode (LED)-decorated props and costumes, the Dagitab Festival of the City of Naga, Cebu was crowned champion in the grand ritual showdown of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo festival on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Cebu City. (Sugbo News)
Police said 17,000 to 18,000 people watched the grand ritual showdown, the highlight of the festival.
Despite the huge crowd, the holding of the festival was generally peaceful, said Police Lt. Col. Janette Rafter, deputy director for administration of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).
Rafter said no crime was reported when the festival started with the street dancing competition at 2 p.m. until it ended past 3 a.m. at CCSC.
“We will congratulate the CCPO and other police units involved, including peace and security stakeholders, for a very safe and secured Pasigarbo,” said Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-Central Visayas chief Police Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin.
Carcar City’s Kabkaban Festival won the Best in Street Dancing award while municipality of Consolacion, showcasing its Sarok Festival, took the Best in Float award.
The Best Carrozza accolade went to the town of Bantayan.
Other winners were Madridejos' Isda Festival (Best in Festival Costume), Consolacion’s Sarok Festival (Best in Festival Jingle), Mayor Romeo Villaceran of Madridejos’ Isda Festival (Best in Mayor’s Introduction), Carcar City's Kabkaban Festival Queen Marie Yasmin Fabian (Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival Queen), Poro's Panagbagat Festival Queen Mary Love Lopez (Miss Photogenic), and Carmen's Sinulog sa Carmen Festival Queen Eden Grace Mendez (Best Festival Queen Costume).
Winners will have a repeat performance on Monday night, August 26, where Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia is expected to announce the cash prizes for this year’s winners.
Last year’s prizes totaled P30 million with the grand ritual showdown champion pocketing P5 million.
Garcia was impressed by the performance of the contingents.
“They all answered my challenge to level up each time and that’s the way, the only way that we can push Cebu to even further heights,” Garcia said.
With each contingent stepping, the battle for the crown was an open race, the governor said.
“It no longer mattered whether you are a contingent from the city or from a town, a small town at that. It didn’t matter if you came from the mainland or from an island, the level of performance really stepped up. That’s what made the festival very nice,” Garcia said.