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[av_heading heading=’Emotions run high at Aliwan awarding’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Tuesday, April 25, 2017
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ILOILO City – “Emotions were running high. The youngsters couldn’t contain themselves.”
This was how Ramon Cua Locsin, president of the IloIlo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. described the scuffle during the awarding ceremony of the Aliwan Fiesta around 1 a.m. on Sunday.
The fray left four propmen of Dinagyang Festival’s Tribu Salognon with minor injuries.
Sources privy to the incident said a group (not the Dinagyang contingent) insulted members of the Manaragat Festival of Catbalogan City. The latter retaliated by throwing broken bottles and stones to the members of Tribu Salognon.
“Perhaps (the Manaragat performers) expected to win again,” said Locsin.
Dinagyang was declared the 2017 Aliwan Fiesta street dance champion, foiling Manaragat’s bid to keep the title.
Manaragat, which held the 2015 and 2016 Aliwan crowns, placed third in this year’s competition, falling behind Dinagyang and Guimaras’ Manggahan Festival (second place).
Locsin said he would talk to the mayor of Catbalogan City about the incident.
Two of the injured propmen were treated as hospital outpatients while two others were admitted for a thorough medical check. They sustained wounds on their heads and bodies.
Locsin said Aliwan organizer Manila Broadcasting Company shouldered the medical expenses.
During the tribes’ performances at the Quirino Grandstand on Saturday, Locsin and the mayor of Catbalogan invited each other’s festivals to perform in their respective cities.
“But with this incident, indi lang anay. Ara pa seguro ang dumot sa mga kabataan. Pakalmahon ta lang anay,” said Locsin./PN
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