1st Place Winner - UIUC PSA Barkada (Semgulang Tawan Sohul) // Battle of the Bamboo 2026

Описание: PSA Barkada from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign places 1st at Battle of the Bamboo 2026. Directed and choreographed by Cultural Chairs Jacob Daza, Ryan Romualdo, and Rena Manching, this dance portrays Semgulang Tawan Sohul (Semgulang Afflicted by Madness).

A hero, named Semgulang, falls in love with a woman named Lemfayon, also known as the Lady of the Moon or Princess of the Lake. He engages in courting her and eventually the two begin preparing for their wedding after Semgulang tells Lemfayon he is committed to their marriage.

As their marriage begins to set up, the entire village prepares to celebrate. This includes Datu Sobong (Lemfayon’s Brother & the Chieftain of Sobong), Monkey (the Guardian of the Moon), Betel (the Guardian of the Sun), and Bowi (Messenger of D’wata & grandfather of Semgulang).

However, tragedy strikes, as Semgulang suddenly commits a transgression: he turns back on his promise to marry Lemfayon after courting her. In revenge, Lemfayon resorts to sorcery and makes Semgulang go insane. He runs amok and wreaks havoc upon the whole community and wanders the wilderness. Semgulang goes upstream to the Source of Water, where Bowi & the Nature Spirits are terrorized. Lemfayon, realizing her mistake, desperately tries to reason with Semgulang and make him stop.
To no avail, Semgulang continues his rampage, as Monkey begins to chase Semgulang, but not even the Guardian of the Moon & his Moon Spirits can stop the madness.

During Monkey’s pursuit, he is stopped by Datu Sobong & the Sobong Guards. Datu Sobong scolds Monkey for his failure to capture Semgulang, and decides to conjure up an attack to kill Semgulang. As Semgulang continues to rampage the village, Datu Sobong launches the attack, but it ultimately fails, as Semgulang is too powerful. Semgulang escapes, and in their defeat, Datu Sobong & Monkey consult with Lemfayon and come to the realization that she is the reason for his madness and chaos.

Amidst the chaos, the Nature Spirits hold a council to discuss how to stop Semgulang. Monkey & Betel are also called to the council, accompanied by their Sun Spirits and Moon Spirits. However, a rivalry erupts, as they engage in a dispute over who should have guardianship over Semgulang. A fight ensues, but Betel ends up victorious and wins custody over Semgulang.

Betel visits Semgulang, who is seen sleeping, and upon his wake, Betel asks Semgulang if he can recognize her; the Guardian of the Sun. To a surprise, instead of attacking, Semgulang is able to recognize Betel. Betel promptly takes Semgulang to the sun, with the intention of healing him, but they are stopped by Bowi & the Nature Spirits.

Bowi decides to take them to the Navel of the Sea, a place where Semgulang can be healed. Betel enacts a conjuring, as an attempt to heal Semgulang, but it fails. Semgulang starts to continue his chaos again, but is stopped by Bowi before it gets out of hand. Bowi dares Semgulang to identify him, to name him. Despite his madness, Semgulang is able to identify Bowi as his grandfather.

Upon this identification, Monkey arrives & together with Betel, they enact a final healing ritual which succeeds in restoring Semgulang’s sanity. It’s revealed that he went mad because his soul was left in a dangerous state of yearning. With the help of the sun and the moon, Semgulang’s strength, knowledge, and power are restored.

Fully healed, Semgulang returns home to the village. He reconciles with Lemfayon and the two are finally married, as the whole community rejoices. The episode ends, as Semgulang comes to the revelation that Lemfayon is his true soulmate.