Dinagyang Festival 2009 gears up for another best
The Executive Committee of the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival 2009 has expressed optimism that it can achieve its objective of giving festival followers and tourists a fun-filled celebration despite a little delay in the implementation of lined up activities in its table of operation.
Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Incorporated (IDFI) Vice President Ricardo Andrada said that the different activity groups of the Working Committee are led by veteran hands, ready and committed to work under the pressure of time.
"Facing constraints of time, manpower and funds, the IDFI Board of Directors & Officers together with its principal partners, the Iloilo City Government & the Religious sector are hands on in working double time to lay the groundwork to enable the Working Committee groups implement their activities according to the festival's trademark of excellence, "Andrada said.
"As early as September of this year the conceptualization of the central theme and a unified concept of the celebration have been identified and agreed upon through a consensus forum participated, in by choreographers, leaders and group heads of the ATI tribes and Kasadyahan participating groups," he emphasized.
He said that mechanisms that can help fast-track preparations have been put in place to smoothen snags in the implementation of planned activities for Dinagyang Festival 2009.
"We are all set to launch Dinagyang Festival 2009 on December 1, 2008 at the local level and on December 13 at the national level," he said.
The local launching will be ushered in by a motorcade that will kick- off at 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon from Plaza Libertad passing through J.M. Basa, Ledesma Streets, Timawa Tanza, Infante Ave., Lopez Jaena, Molo M.H. Del Pilar, Gen. Luna, Bonifacio Drive to Lapaz, passing through Huervana, Rizal and Luna Streets, to Jaro, passing through E. Lopez Street, Plaza Jaro, EL 98 Street to Sen. Aquino Avenue and end at the venue of the Opening Program at SM City, Diversion Road, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
"The Group Heads of the activities under the Working Committee have a high spirit of volunteerism and teamwork, and there is no doubt, against all odds, Dinagyang Festival 2009 will maintain its recognition in the circle of Best Tourism Events in the country." Andrada added.
"The pledges of our generous sponsors are starting to come in while we try to encourage other untapped potential sources to beef up our Festival funds," IDFI President Lee Chuan said.
The IDFI which has been tapped by the Iloilo City Government and the San Jose Parish Placer in the operation of the Dinagyang Festival for the past 9 years has remained steadfast in its mission to put Iloilo on higher ground in the company of progressive and investment-friendly cities and provinces of the country through the time - tested vehicle, the Dinagyang Festival," Andrada said. (Dinagyang 2009 Publicity Group)