Arroyo, foreign dignitaries lead Dinagyang '06 VIPs
Iloilo City -- Security will be extra tighter for this year's Dinagyang Festival as several Very Important Persons (VIPs) are expected to watch the highlight of the City's annual top tourist attraction.
President Arroyo is scheduled to fly to the City this Saturday, and will be spending the night here.
Although she is not expected to watch the tribes contest on Sunday, she will be attending the holy mass at San Jose parish to be held before the competition. She is also scheduled to inaugurate government projects and grace social functions.
The Philippine Information Agency, however, stressed that Arroyo's visit has not yet been 100% confirmed.
The Dinagyang committee has also released a list of foreign dignitaries who have confirmed their visit.
These are Israeli Ambassador Yeshua Sagi, his wife Hana Sagi, and attaché Ziv David; Swedish representative Fredrik Agerhem and Commercial Councilor Sara Aulin; Nigerian Consul Samson Igegboje, who will be accompanied by Mr. James Amangbu; United States Consul General Richard Haynes, and Matthew Taylor of the Anti-Fraud Division; Japanes Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki; Nozaki Seiki of the Japan International Cooperation Agency; World Bank's Ming Zhang and Chris Pablo; and Myanmar Ambassador U Thaung Tun and wife Sandar Lwin.
The Dinagyang Foundation has arranged for their hotel bookings, and they will be assigned each a member of the City Council as point person.