BACOLOD City – The Enriqueta Montilla De Esteban Memorial High School (EMEMHS) of Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, clinched the championship title for the second year in a row at the 13th Bago City Invitational Fancy Drill Competition.
The event was a key highlight of the 126th celebration of Al Cinco de Noviembre, or Negros Day, held at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center in Bago City.
EMEMHS triumphed over competitors, taking home not only the championship with a P25,000 prize but also special awards for best street performance, most disciplined unit, and best uniform.
Following closely were Lopez Jaena National High School (LJNHS) of Murcia, securing the first runner-up position for the second consecutive year, and Murcia National High School, which came in as the second runner-up.
First and second runners-up received P20,000 and P15,000 respectively, each also awarded a trophy.
The competition saw participation from seven schools including STI-West Negros University (STI-WNU), Bago City College (BCC), Minoyan National High School, and Mariano G. Medalla Integrated High School. STI-WNU won accolades for best platoon leader, best production number, and best narration.
The five-day Al Cinco de Noviembre festivities commenced on October 30, culminating in the 26th Sigabong sang mga Kanyon, a parade featuring a display of cannons through the major streets leading to Bantayan Park.
In this event, 24 barangays of Bago City, grouped into six clusters, competed with Cluster 6 — comprising Barangays Lag-asan, Poblacion, Pacol, and Bagroy — emerging as the champion.
Cluster 1 won the first runner-up and Best in Sigabong, while Cluster 5 and 4 took the second and third runner-up spots.
Prizes for the Sigabong sang mga Kanyon ranged from P5,000 to P15,000, with a special award for the “Loudest Booming Cannon”./PN
