Ilonggos must be proud of Dinagyang—Treñas
City Mayor Jerry Treñas is very happy on the achievement of the Dinagyang Festival after it again took the title Best Tourism Event in the country for three consecutive years.
The yearly festival celebrated in honor of Señor Sto. Niño is already in the hall of fame which automatically disqualifies the city to compete with other festivals in the selection initiated by the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines (ATOP).
The 2008 ATOP national convention was held here last week and participated by more than 500 delegates. The mayor considered the recent winning of Dinagyang as another achievement for the city. Ilonggos should be proud of it, he said.
Dinagyang has placed Iloilo both in the national and international tourism map. Domestic and foreign tourists flock to the city to witness the festival. Several innovations have been made to make the festival competitive.
Treñas said he was told that Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ace Durano considered the recent convention as one of the biggest conventions attended by ATOP members in the country. The convention enabled the ATOP member areas to showcase their tourism sites and destinations.
Aside from the Best Tourism Event award, ATOP likewise gave a special award to Iloilo City Tourism Officer Ben Jimena as one of the best tourism officers in the country. It is a special award that needs to be conferred in next year's ATOP convention.
The accomplishments and programs presented by Jimena would still be evaluated by the board of judges. The board of judges is composed of different regional directors of the Department of Tourism, Philippine Tourism Authority among others.
Meanwhile, Treñas said the ATOP should be strengthened as they hold the key in the promotion of the tourism industry.