More innovations in Dinagyang '08
The Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) will initiate more changes in 2008 Dinagyang Festival to make the affair more colorful and festive.
from changing the color of the body paint of Dinagyang tribes performers, IDFI executive director Ben Jimena said there will also be the infusion of "Hala Bira Iloilo" song during the street dancing, reduction of performance stages and addition of drum and bugle competition.
As of press time, the foundation is also deliberating on the possibility of transferring the Dinagyang tribes competition from morning to afternoon. Traditionally, the tribes competition is being held in the morning of Sunday, the festival's last day.
Jimena said they came up with an idea to transfer the time of the competition from morning to afternoon to avoid a lull after the tribes have performed. He said holding the competition in the afternoon would also force the visitors to stay in the city. It will mean more income to kiosk owners, hotels and restaurants, said Jimena.
He said if it would be agreed that the tribes competition be held in the afternoon, a drum and bugle competition will be held in the morning. In the proposed afternoon schedule, the tribes will start to perform at 1 pm. Presently, 16 tribes expressed intention to join in the tribes competition.
Nevertheless, if it would be decided that the morning schedule be retained, the drum and bugle competition will be held in the afternoon after the tribes competition. The drum and bugle competition is an added attraction, Jimena said.
The performance stages for the Dinagyang tribes competition will be reduced from five to four. The performance area at Plazoleta Gay will already be scrapped.
Dinagyang tribes will just have to perform in four stages: Iloilo Freedom Grandstand, Iloilo Provincial Capitol, Quezon-Ledesma and in front of the statue of Ma. Clara near the central market.