Ormoc's Tugob Festival all set in October

This October, the city government of Ormoc will once again showcase the local talents and performers from different schools to display the city’s abundance through a festival that is scheduled on October 20 in celebration of the city’s 66th Charter Day or “Adlaw sa Ormoc”. The Tugob Festival that was established in 2010 will once more exhibit Ormoc’s wealth for the fourth time this Charter Day. Aside from displaying Ormoc’s bounty, it is expected to generate awareness of protecting these sources from abuses so as to linger for the next generations.

Again, the festival is expected to draw thousands of spectators wherein colorful props and costumes are to be displayed. The City Culture and the Arts together with the City Tourism Office facilitates the works. The identified riches in Ormoc represented by the schools on the festival are: Pineapple – New Ormoc City National High School and Ormoc City Central School; rootcrops – Ipil National High School; Flower – Margen National High School; sugarcane – Lilo-an and Julian Gantuangco National High School; coconut – Dolores, Tongonan and Cabingtan National High School; rice – Valencia and Maticaa National High School; vegetable – Linao National High School; fish – Genaro Lureñana and Rustico Capahi National Memorial National High School; steam – Eastern Visayas State University – Ormoc City Campus; and livestock – STI College of Ormoc.

The schools are tapped to develop the dancing prowess of talented students. The criteria allow each contingent to include a minimum of 50 dancers apart from the props men. As early as July, the committee had started the preparations like the free festival management workshop granted to the contingent choreographers. And the invited speakers were the festival experts of Sinulog Foundation, Cebu City.

Yesterday, after the weekly flag-raising, Edwin Codilla, this year’s “Adlaw sa Ormoc” executive director, introduced to the city officials and employees the beautiful candidates to vie for Miss Tugob Queen 2013 title that will be held in Ormoc City Superdome on October 17. The contingents will be judged through a street dancing and a showdown. Prizes at stake are P200,000; P190,000; and p150,000 for the first, second and third with consolation prize of P150,000. And additional prizes for special awards like best street dance, costume and choreographer. The Miss Tugob Queen will receive P20,000; P15,000; and P10,000 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes, respectively, and the non-winners would receive special awards of P3,000 each.