Pabalhas Kapamilya

By Wein P. Gadian

Health awareness brought about various types of diets (Atkins, zone or south beach and other what-have-yous), exercise (aerobics, dance, yoga, martial arts a million other activities) and other physical activities. More people are starting to believe that prevention is cheaper-not to mention better- than the cure, and exercise— pabalhas in the local dialect—is the proven cheapest and most effective way in lowering health risks and promoting good health.

With 'Pabalhas '05,' ABS-CBN TV 10 is throwing in their hat to the arena of fitness, and we won't be bidding summer 2005 hasta la vista without promoting health awareness and Ilonggo art.

The summer program, themed 'Pabalhas para sa ikaayong lawas,' was held last April 9 at the Breakthrough Restaurant at the seafoods center Arevalo.

And summer became even hotter with competition among participants in the different categories.

There were five categories: Hataw Sayaw, a dance contest participated in by seven groups; Pinta Tawo , a body painting contest joined in by 11 equally talented and artistically-inclined contenders; Taksanay for strength and endurance among eight contenders as to who is Atlas' worthy successor; and, Porma Balas, a sand sculpting contest in cooperation with Rotaract Club themed 'Liwanag sa Dilim,' among nine groups all composed of 'masters of the sand.' The last, Porma Clay, a clay molding contest for the 4-9 year-old age group, was held April 7 at the SM City.

But Pabalhas '05 was more than just exercise.

Hataw Sayaw shows that Ilonggos can indeed move in synchrony with music, while the Pinta Tawo awakens the 'artists in you' of individuals, the interpretration of strokes and concept relative to the theme.

Porma Balas and Taksanay show that Ilonggos are dexterous enough to mould sand yet strong to lift and carry heavy loads.

The participants in the four categories are all winners. But not all of them went home P3,000 (1 st prize), P2,000 (2 nd prize) or P1,000 (3 rd prize) richer.

Those who went home financially better off than the others are:

Hataw Sayaw

• 1st place-Dance Unlimited
• 2nd place-Terpsichorean Dancers
• 3rd place-Erazers Dancers

 Pinta Tawo

• 1st place-Larry Dumagat
• 2nd place-Edward Colmo
• 3rd place-Angelo Indencio

Taksanay

• 1st place-Junjun Eje
• 2nd place-Alexis Suyanan
• 3rd place-Ernie Berbulla

Porma Balas

• 1st place-Noly Marañon and Co.
• 2nd place- Like Sculptors Group
• 3rd place-Jerry Marañon and Co.

Porma Clay

• 1st place-Ralf Johann Anacita
• 2nd place-Jose Chaujann Cabaron
• 3rd place-Kristoff Palma