Mayor Celso Lobregat Saturday afternoon warmly welcomed the Zamboanga City High School (ZCHS)-main dance troupe which won second place in the recently-concluded street dance and showdown competition during the Aliwan Festival in Metro Manila.

The 168-man delegation composed of students and teachers, arrived from Manila aboard the Superferry Liner of the Aboitiz Group of companies, and was headed by School principal Arlita Tubongbanua and choreographers Marcelino Ponte and Lea Socorro Mariano. The group garnered second place with a cash prize of half a billion pesos.

“We are very proud of their feat”, Mayor Lobregat said as he applauded each and every member of the delegation for the honor they brought to Zamboanga City. He met the group at the local wharf where he was presented with the replica check of P500,000 representing the group’s prize.

The ZCHS-main dance troupe has been participating in the Aliwan Festival for the last 5 years. In 2007, the group won fourth place and last April 24, the group garnered the second top place.

Aliwan Festival is now on its 10th year and is sponsored by the Manila Broadcasting Corporation, the operator of radio station DZRH.

The street dance and showdown competition started at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City and ended at the Star City in New Manila.

The city government assisted the delegation in securing discounts for the boat fare to and from Manila by directly contacting the management of the Aboitiz Group of Companies.