Jimena confirms brawling incident between Dinagyang, Sinulog performers
Santiago City Mayor Amelita Navarro rises from
her seat to show her appreciation of Dinagyang's
Tribu Ilonganon dance presentation during the
grand parade of the Pattaradday Festival in
Santiago City, Isabela last May 5, 2007. (PIA 6)
Dinagyang executive director Ben Jimena confirmed reports that some members of the Tribu Ilonganon figured in a brawling incident in Santiago City, Isabela. Two of the tribe members were slightly wounded and no one was confined in the hospital.
Jimena, who is also the chief of the Iloilo City Tourism Office, viewed the incident as "risk of being a contestant." The incident happened last May 5, 2007 after the two tribes finished their presentation in Santiago City. Santiago City celebrated its Pattaraday Festival at the time of the incident.
Two of the performers who are students of the Jalandoni Memorial National High School suffered injuries after hit by stones allegedly thrown by members of the Sinulog tribe. Before, they left Santiago; the Iloilo organizers brought the two students to Devera Hospital to make sure of their conditions. The city government of Santiago City paid the hospital expenses incurred by performers.
The organizers first thought one of the performers had a rib injury, as he could not raise his hands. The same reason why he was brought to the hospital and underwent x-ray examination. The examination yielded hematoma results in the arm of the performer, he said.
Jimena could not categorically say on who started the fight. Officials of the Iloilo contingent however told Jimena that members of the Tribu Ilonganon got irritated when the performers of Sinulog tribe posted insulting words on their shoulders, which describes them as "losers." And one of the performers of Tribu Ilonganon grabbed the paper attached to the costumes of Sinulog performer.
The Tribu Ilonganon should not be blamed for what had happened. Any person will get irritated of what the Sinulog performers did. Ilonganon also got the pride because of their performance. They were the crowd favorite and the only tribe who competed in the Aliwan fiesta and performed in the SM Mall of Asia, said Jimena.
The recent incident will serve as a lesson to the organizers. The rivalry between the Iloilo contingent and Cebu contingent will always be around. The threat extends beyond the dance contest. It is high time for the organizer to make sure the security of the performers.
The two tribes have been performing in the Pattaraday Festival of Santiago City since last year. They were invited by Santiago Mayor Amy Navarro to perform after they competed in the Aliwan festival. Cebu got the first place while Dinagyang landed on the second place. Pattaraday means unity but the guest performing tribes themselves engaged in physical battle.
The contingents of two tribes should not be merged in one place alone. They should be separated from each other to avoid any conflict from both parties. The two tribes have their own supporters, said Jimena.