The ‘Chicken Fever’ That Inspired
A fever that spreads nationwide in 5 months obviously attracts much attention. It did for this one.
Only that this kind brought joy and inspiration instead of fear and pain. Bounty Fresh – Chooks To Go’s nationwide Sayaw Fever Chicken Dance competition attracted more than a thousand dance groups from all over the country. Vying for the top prize of One Million Pesos, the top seven group finalists converged for the Grand Finals at The Terraces, Ayala Center, Cebu in a hotly contested dance showdown last April 30, 2011,
The road to the Grand Finals was a grueling but rewarding journey. It starts with the eliminations at the local level, then the regionals prior to reaching the Grand Finals. But there are rewards along the way. The winner in the eliminations gets P10,000. The Regional winner gets P30,000. Then at the Grand Finals, the 2nd runner up gets P100,000, the 1st runner up P200,000 and the Champion P1 Million.
Seven kids ages 9 to 13 from Langihan, Butuan City, in Mindanao who call themselves the “Loverkada Kids” emerged the Grand Champions, and brought home the One Million Pesos grand prize.
The Sayaw Fever Grand Champion, the Loverkada Kids, crying tears of joy as they accepted the one million cash prize.
“Loverkada” brings to mind our common word “barkada”. But these young kids from Butuan put a positive connotation to the sometimes negative implication of the word. And they translated the positive into real, tangible group action – they danced. Employing innate skills perfected with training and discipline, they danced their way to a million pesos.
Their story is an inspiring one. The Loverkada Kids started when Ms. Adelfa Nedia, their trainer, was looking for local kids who can dance for their town fiesta. She selected the children due to their talent regardless of who they are and where they came from. She trained them and taught them the value of discipline and practicing their skills. The group blossomed and decided to continue with what they do best, dancing. They won in several local competitions, until they heard and found out about “Chooks-to-Go Sayaw Fever One Million Pesos Chicken Dance Showdown”. Upon winning the grand prize, the eldest among them said “Masaya lang po kami, hindi na po maglalabandera yung nanay ko tsaka yung mga nanay nila” (we are happy, my mother will not have to laundry for others anymore, and also their mothers – referring to her group mates).
Ms. Nedia believes that the Loverkada Kids have inspired everyone throughout their journey in the competition. When asked what carried them through she stated, “Faith in God and we must not stop to dream and believe that everything is possible. But we need to work for it, earn it and achieve it. And we must not stop to pursue our dreams and aspirations, as we will continue to dance and dance as we move on with our life and destiny.”
The 1st Runner Up was won by the group Baguio Metamorphosis. Second Runner Up was the group Exquizyth who hails from General Santos City.
Baguio Metamorphosis, the 1st Runner-Ups hailing from North Luzon to represent in the Sayaw Fever Challenge
2nd Runner-ups Exquizyth, from General Santos City put a unique twist to the Chicken Dance routine, securing them a place in the finals.
More than just a contest, the Sayaw Fever, has a story that has not been much publicized. Sometime ago, Bounty Fresh received a plea for help from a “blue baby” – Jemuel Namayan. “Blue baby” is the layman’s term for a heart condition that decreases the oxygen intake causing the baby to turn blue. It is fatal if not treated. A heart surgery can correct the condition. Jemuel Namayan’s family has no means to pay for his surgery, and plea for help was brought to the Sayaw Fever organizers.
The Sayaw winner is determined by a 70-30 percentage ratio of voting. The judges’ votes comprised 70% of the winner’s score. The remaining 30% percent is determined from the online and SMS audience votes garnered by the winner. The online and SMS voting system was handled by Synermax. For every SMS or online vote, a certain revenue is generated. Synermaxx donated a total of P119,904.00 for Jemuel’s surgery. Donations from the Sayaw audience amounted to P8,255.40. Bounty Fresh added to the amount making a total donation of P150,000.00 for Jemuel.
“Chooks-to-Go Sayaw Fever One Million Peso Chicken Dance Showdown” was the first single-brand initiated dance contest staged in search for the nation’s best chicken dance routine, which was aired on Studio 23 every Sunday. It is their way of saying thanks for making them the leading oven roasted chicken (masarap kahit walang sauce!) in barely two years. Mr. Ronald R. Mascariñas, Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. President, was grateful for the overwhelming support they received in staging the contest. His parting words were “We are just warming up, we have more in store for the Chooks to Go customers and patrons, watch out for it!”
Sayaw Fever Grand Finals
Watch as the best 7 groups battle it out for the 1 Million Peso cash prize! It’s the Sayaw Fever Grand Finals in Cebu, featuring Jhong Hilario, Regine Tolentino, and April “Congratulations” Gustilo as celebrity judges!
For complete list of the Sayaw Fever episodes , click here.
Sayaw Fever Episode 12
Watch the last batch of dancers and celebrity judge Regine Tolentino strut their stuff in the Sayaw Fever South Mindanao Super Regionals.
For complete list of the Sayaw Fever episodes , click here.
Sayaw Fever Episode 11
Watch the dancers from North Mindanao bring the house down in the Sayaw Fever Super Regionals, with Derek Ramsay as celebrity judge.
For complete list of the Sayaw Fever episodes , click here.
Sayaw Fever Episode 10
Watch as Derek Ramsay judges who is the best talent from South Luzon in the Sayaw Fever Super Regionals in Lipa.
For complete list of the Sayaw Fever episodes , click here.
For other episodes. Click here.
Sayaw Fever: Episode 9
Watch as the dance groups from Western Visayas battle it out for a slot at the Super Regionals, featuring April “Congratulations” Gustilo as celebrity judge.
For complete list of the Sayaw Fever episodes , click here.
For other episodes. Click here.
Sayaw Fever Grand Finals bukas, 12:30pm sa Studio 23!
Bukas na ang airing ng Chooks – to – Go Sayaw Fever Grand Finals! Na-move po ang time slot natin from 11:30am to 12:30 pm. Spread the news and manuod ng Studio 23 bukas!
Sayaw Fever: Episode 8
Watch as the North Luzon Dance Crews and Celebrity Judge Derek Ramsay brought the summer heat to Baguio City in the Sayaw Fever Super Regionals
For complete Sayaw Fever episode schedules, click here.
For other episodes. Click here.
Sayaw Fever: Episode 7
Watch the Central and Eastern Luzon Visayas Dance Crews battle it out in the Sayaw Fever Regionals featuring Ms. Regine Tolentino as celebrity judge.
For complete Sayaw Fever episode schedules, click here.
For other episodes. Click here.
Sayaw Fever: Episode 6
Watch as Sayaw Fever moves up to the Super Regional Level featuring winners of GMA and Ms. Regine Tolentino as celebrity judge.
For complete Sayaw Fever episode schedules, click here.
For other episodes. Click here.
