Tribu Bola-Bola of Iloilo National High School will be seeing action again during the Iloilo Dinagyang 2009. This news was confirmed recently in an e-mail by Dinagyang Foundation Chairman Ben Jimena. In fact they are also scheduled to join the Dinagyang Consensus Forum on Sunday September 21.
Tribu Bola Bola has been for their quick split-second precision choreography and eye-catching costume and headress. The pride of Iloilo National High School is also known to be the leader in making innovations in Dinagyang Festival.
They were known to be the first tribe to use platforms or mobile stages. They were also the first group to use beaded bahags with small bells on each strand. Yes, they were literally making noise during the performance. If I am not mistaken they also introduced the use of PVC pipes as a percussion instruments. Now many tribes and festivals from other parts of the country is following this trend.
Last week during the Kadayawan Festival in Davao, I have seen at least two tribes from Mindanao that performed using the PVC Pipes. The contingents from Tampakan, South Cotabato and Suralla, South Cotabato both used PVC pipes as their instrument.
For many Ilonggo’s, Dinagyang can and will never be complete without the Tribu Bola Bola competing. The level of competition is always on its highest once they are on the streets dancing for the Santo Niño.
The achievements of Tribu Bola Bola can never be duplicated. They have been the Dinagyang Festival champion for the years 1994, 1996 and 1997. When the contest was split into barangay and open category, Iloilo’s great tribe dominated the open category from 1998 until 2001. The last time they won the grand prize was in 2004.
The group joined the Dinagyang streetdance contest in 2005 and 2006 but was only able to land as 1st runner up.
And now that they’re back, expect nothing but the best Dinagyang Festival 2009 experience this coming January. For sure they will set the standards of performance to a higher level once again.
Check the Dinagyang 2009 Schedule here
Former Grandslam Champion Tribu Bola-Bola returns to Dinagyang 2009
I guess there will be athletes included for this campaign. It’s already confirmed that Mike Cortez is one of them. I’m just not sure though who are the rest.