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For a successful Dinagyang 2006: Treñas appeals for unity

By Maricar M. Calubiran

Mayor Jerry P. Treñas appealed to Ilonggos to unite and cooperate for the success of next year's Dinagyang celebration. He made his appeal in last Friday's launching of the Dinagyang 2006 in SM City.

Treñas said there is a clear division among the political leaders in the country. Yet, he assured that this division could not be manifested in the holding of the yearly religious rites in honor of Sr. Sto. Niño should there be cooperation and unity among the Ilonggos.

He added that next year's theme of the celebration is also timely in the present political crisis the country is facing right now. The 2006 Dinagyang theme is 'Healing Thru Devotion to Sto. Niño.'

'The country needs healing,' he said.

The Ilonggos should help and cooperate in the success of the celebration as their devotion to the yearly festivity, said Treñas.

Meanwhile, Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. executive director Ben Jimena said the celebration is an avenue to promote Iloilo City. The same reason they added a tag line in the theme which says 'Iloilo, the only one.'

Jimena said they have come up with several objectives to make the festival far better than the previous years. Among the objectives of the IDFI are to increase the tourist arrival by 50 percent, strengthen claim for national and international recognition and to involve and promote local enterprise.

He said they have a rough target of 430,530 tourist arrivals next year in time with the Dinagyang celebration. In 2005, he estimated the tourist arrival at 287,000. The figure only covers the first quarter of 2005.

To address the influx of the tourist arrivals in the city, they also come up with an idea for a home stay scheme to address congestion in hotels. Tourists will stay in different homes in the city. Councilor Merci Garcia, chair of the committee on tourism is set to file a resolution in the Sangguniang Panlungsod relative to the home stay plan. As early as this, they are already coordinating with some house owners regarding the home stay plan.

The foundation which was also given authority by the chief executive to operate the 2006 festivity also come up with new ideas for a far more better 'ati' celebration.

The IDFI decided that there should be only one category in the 'ati' contest, prizes are bigger, additional awards include five major winners, two more special winners, the performance of every tribe is only 10 minutes to include props set up, entrance and exit, said Jimena.

There would also be a separate criteria for performance and choreography, the criteria for judging will include dance consistency, and there are new stakeholders which are the travel and tour operators and the holding of masses every Saturday and Sunday in honor of the patron saint.

Additional sports events such as marathon and basketball are also added to make the event colorful.

However, the IDFI rejected the idea to include baroto race and water ski competition during the week long activity. 'They are not effective and are not congruent with the Dinagyang celebration,' said Jimena.

On the security plans, Iloilo City Police Office Director Sr. Supt. Norlito Bautista said they are in forefront of securing the festivity in spite of the global threat on terrorism.

Bautista admitted urban cities are targets of terrorism. He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines will augment their force to beef up their security measures.

The police will also coordinate with the Department of Tourism and hotels for the visitors to enjoy the activity to the fullest, said Bautista.