Iloilo girds for back-to-back festivals
Indeed the City of Iloilo is fit to be called the "festival capital of the country." This City Mayor Jerry Treñas said as the city prepares for the array of festivals set this first quarter of 2008. The city will hold four major festivals to be ushered by the Dinagyang festival this third week of January.
Treñas said festivals will encourage foreign and domestic tourists to visit the city as well as the province of Iloilo. The influx of tourists in the city and province of Iloilo will boost the tourism industry.
The first tourism event in the city that will draw tourists is the Dinagyang festival, a yearly celebration in honor of Sr. Sto, Nino.
There will be 20 participating tribes including the Tribu Ivatan from Batanes. Performers of Ivatan tribe are expected to arrive in the city next week to be headed by Iloilo-born Cong. Carlo Oliver Diasnes of Batanes.
The other Iloilo-based competing tribes are Tribu Ilonganon, Tribu Silak, Tribu Paghidaet, Ang Taga Jaro, Tribu Atub-Atub, Tribu San Pedro, Tribu Baryohanon, Tribu Molave, Tribu Aninipay, Tribu Kalubihan, Tribu Pag-asa, Tribu Panaad, Tribu Dagyaw Ta / Binhi, Tribu Familia Sagrada, Tribu Parianon, Tribu Hamili, Tribu Angola, Tribu Bantu and Tribu Himala.
Few days after the Dinagyang festival, balikbayans and foreigners especially those who love cockfighting will again visit Iloilo City as the district of Jaro celebrates its patronal fiesta in honor of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria or Our Lady of Candles on February 2. Thousands of devotees of the patron saint hear mass at the Jaro Cathedral during the fiesta.
The fiesta is characterized by grand coronation of fiesta queens chosen from old rich Ilonggo families in Jaro. The grand procession is also an activity to watch.
After the Jaro grand fiesta is the Iloilo Chinese New Year slated on February 6-7, 2008. Iloilo City started to celebrate the Chinese New Year five years ago through the initiative of Mayor Treñas. It is the only Chinese New Year celebration held outside Metro Manila. The activity is held right in the middle of the city's business district where many businesses owned by Filipino-Chinese thrive.
The fourth festival is the Iloilo Paraw Regatta festival. It will be held on February 16-17, 2008 with major events along the eight kilometer stretch of the Iloilo-Guimaras Strait. The Iloilo Paraw Regatta was recently selected as the third best tourism event of the country by ATOP.