Several schools and local government units are expected to join the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan on January 7, 2012 at the Cebu City Sports Center. Below is the initial list of contingents who expressed willingness to join the event.

Elementary

Tuyan Central Elementary School – Division of City Schools – Naga
– First time to join Sinulog
Choreographer: Mark Anthony Dadivalos
No. of dancers: 100 (42 boys and 58 girls)
No. of props men:
No. of instrumentalists: 25-35

Gregorio-Milan Elementary School
– First time to join Sinulog
Choreographer: Janice Carmelotes
No. of dancers: 70
No. of props men: 30
No. of instrumentalists: 35

Danao City East District – Danao City Central School
Choreographer: Ralph Brenel Baticuang, Kaiser Jan Palma and Keneth Gaingo
No. of dancers: 75
No. of props men: 160
No. of instrumentalists: 35
Concept: Pottery (parade of pots), to showcase the pot products of Danao

Sta. Filomena Elementary School
Choreographer: Lyndon Memoracion
No. of dancers: 72
No. of props men:
No. of instrumentalists: 35
– Second place Sinulog sa Kabataan 2011
– 5 times winner of Kawayan Festival
– The school is just a small barrio school but all the Sta. Filomenians contributed their time, talent, and treasure just to join the Sinulog.

Bogo City Division Elementary
San Roque Elementary School

Secondary

Medellin National High School
– First time to join Sinulog
Choreographer: Marites Florita
No. of dancers: 100
No. of props men: 100
No. of instrumentalists: 33

Tulay National High School
No. of dancers: 98
No. of props men: 30
No. of instrumentalists: 45
– Champion in the Kabanhawan Festival in Minglanilla
– First time to join Sinulog

Tuburan National High School
Number of dancers: 82
Number of propsmen: 40

Tuburan National High School has made a mark in the Sinulog sa Kabataan competition. It placed first when it first joined the competition sometime in 1990s, its choreographer Adelle Menchavez recalled.

This year is TNHS’s third year in the competition. It took the school a decade after it decided to take the challenge once again and compete with the growing list of contingents.

“We now want to offer something new from Tuburan to the public and upon the encouragement of our division, we decided to join again,” Menchavez shared.

Although she admitted funding as one of its challenges, she said the group was able to overcome it with the help of the student-dancers, their parents, and the teachers.

In a month of rehearsals, Menchavez said she and the dancers only hope for the best.

She said as much as they want to win this year’s Sinulog sa Kabataan, what is important is that they enjoy the dance in honor of Sr. Sto. Niño, the patron saint of Cebu.

Tuyan National High School
Number of dancers: 66
Number of propsmen: 122

Twelve days of preparation do not stop Tuyan National High School from representing the City of Naga in the Sinulog sa Kabataan Festival sa Lalawigan 2012.

Tuyan was chosen to represent the city through a draw lots. Prior to the draw lots, the city held its festival the 4th Dagitab Festival last December 23, 2011, when Tuyan competed but unluckily lost to other contingents, leaving only a few days of preparation for Cebu City’s Sinulog festival.

Its choreographer, Emmylou Obiedo, proudly shared that Tuyan was named champion in the Sinulog sa Kabataan in 1995. This, she said, inspires her to do better in their rehearsals albeit the limited time for preparation.

Lawaan National High School
Number of dancers: around 80
Number of propsmen: 50

Talisay City is a name in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan. It took home the champion in last year’s competition in the elementary category and third place in the secondary. This, choreographer Mayonito Abakita admitted, is the biggest challenge of the city’s representative to this year’s festival – to bring home the bacon for the second time.

But Abakita confessed they only had limited time for practice as the school was unsure of representing the city.

“It was decided that the Sisters of Mary School in Talisay will compete in the festival but they refused to because of conflict in their school calendar,” he said in vernacular.

Upon the recommendation of City Administrator Richel Bacaltos, it was decided that Lawaan represent Talisay.

“But just last night (January 4), they were housed in the city gymnasium because the school is quite far from the city,” Abakita said.

The expense was shouldered by the local government of Talisay.

With all these challenges, including shortage of funds, Abakita said they never stopped hoping to bag this year’s Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan.

Toledo National Vocational School
Tabok National High School
Pajo National High School (Lapu-Lapu City Government)
Liloan National High School
Maslog National High School
Carcar City Division