At the recent Pintados – Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals, six municipalities compete for the annual street dancing competitions with theme is “ Taghoy ng Kalikasan”, or “Nature’s wall”. The competing groups included Lingganay Festival from Alangalang, Leyte, Binaybay Festival of Baybay; Tribung Paghigda-it Festival of Palo; Buyogan Festival of Abuyog; Pasaka Festival of Tanauan, Leyte ; Alikaraw Festival of Hilongos.

Judges included Muhammad Abrar Arifin, Indonesian choreographer and director Armita B. Rufino, president of Filipino Heritage Festival; Prof. Christian Aguado, executive director for Kalimulan Dance Troupe of Mindanao State University (Iligan City) as chairperson; Leticia Tan, DOT Regional Director (Region 13 – CARAGA Region) and Mr. Louie Guarin of Manila Bulletin.

Two – time winner Alikaraw Festival was out to win to claim the grand prize and be declared grand slam winner. But in the end, it was the Buyogan Festival which won the grand prize of Php 300,000.00 plus trophy. Its choreographer Victor Hao Cuenco received Php 10,000.00 and a trophy.

Other winners include: Alikaraw Festival, second place with choreographer Coby Lenard Abris; and Lingganay Festival, third place, with choreographer Veruel M. Barraza.

Buyogan Festival bagged both the Best in Street Dancing and Best in Festival Music awards. Their dance ritual is about the mystical buyog (bee) and about how peaceful settlers benefited from the blessings of a forest.