Tribes assure no 'disruption' on Dinagyang highlights
Dinagyang Executive Committee officials, from left, Dr.
Ma. Febe Cang, chair, Drum and Lyre Competition; Dr. Jaime
Manila, chair, Tribes Committee; and Dr. Eden Deriada,
chair, Kasadyahan Committee, brief the City Hall reporters
of the latest updates on Dinagyang Festival.
Managers of the four tribes that were earlier reported to have threatened to disrupt the highlights of the Dinagyang Festival in protest of their non-inclusion in the tribes subsidy have assured their full support and commitment for the success of the celebration.
This was learned from Dr. Jaime Manila, chair of the tribes committee, during yesterday's press briefing.
Manila said he has already ironed out things with the tribe managers of Hamili, Himala, Bantu and Angola.
Manila said the tribe managers through Francis Segovia of Hamili made their commitment to stick with the policies and regulations of the foundation regarding the release of subsidy for the competing tribes.
Manila said Segovia also denied being the source of the report that they would disrupt the Dinagyang competition as a show of protest for not receiving subsidy from the city government and IDFI.
He added that Segovia made clear that they would not do anything foolish to discredit their name for almost 40 years of joining in the Dinagyang competition.
Tribu Hamili received help from their supporters and friends even if the foundation did not provide them with subsidy. There are people who gave them some amount that they could spend, said Manila.
Moreover, Manila said Rodrigo Gerega, tribe manager of Tribu Angola also informed the foundation of their support to the foundation. The tribe is trying their best to be included in this year's top 15 competing tribes to avail of subsidy in the next Dinagyang festival.
Manila said Tribu Angola could have been included in the list of tribes to avail subsidy had they not incurred overtime in last year's competition. He personally attested the sincerity of Gerega over the rules of the foundation.
The chair of the tribes committee also got the assurance from Danilo Drilon of Tribu Himala and July Gomez of Tribu Bantu.
Mayor Jerry Treñas welcomed the commitment given by the tribe managers.
Earlier, Treñas warned the tribes concerned not to do anything that would ruin the Dinagyang Festival as it would cause their expulsion from the competition.