Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival kicks off today
Iloilo’s top tourism event, the Dinagyang Festival formally opens today with an opening salvo at the Freedom Grandstand.
The Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc., the Festival’s organizer, regularly holds the opening salvo to signal the formal opening of the Dinagyang festivities and the start of various Dinagyang-related activities organized by the private sector.
In today’s opening salvo, tribes participating in this year’s Dinagyang Festival are expected to give the public a preview of what their performances would be on the highlight on January 25, City Tourism Officer Benito Jimena told The News Today yesterday.
Portion of the city’s downtown district will be closed to vehicular traffic today.
The 41st Dinagyang Festival, which is in honor of the infant Jesus, culminates with an Ati Tribes contest where brown-painted dancers, dressed as Aeta warriors, will dance to the beat of drums and other musical instruments.
Seventeen tribes will be participating in the Ati competition, Jimena said. They will be performing in all of the five judging areas situated in the main thoroughfares of the city’s downtown district.
Revelers can dance along with the tribes on their way to the next performance area. On the other hand, 12 tribes will participate in the Kasadyahan, which is on January 24.
Though still short of funds, the IDFI is promising an even livelier Dinagyang Festival this year.
They lined up various new activities. On Thursday next week, a local restaurant will attempt to cook the world’s biggest bowl of La Paz Batchoy at the La Paz plaza. About 17 chefs will cook several kilos of round noodles, pork innards, and vegetables, among others, in a 2-meter x 1.5-meter stainless steel bowl. Once cooked, the native Ilonggo delicacy will be served to about 3,000 orphaned and indigent children, plus the tourists, and officials of La Paz district.
Also, 18 fireworks manufacturers from all over the country will compete in a two-night fireworks competition on January 23 and 24 at the SM City Iloilo grounds.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation will also be bringing in Wonders, an acrobatic and magical show, to perform during the awarding ceremonies on the evening of January 25 at the Iloilo Sports Complex. There will also be an exhibition of Chinese-made fireworks during the awarding ceremony.
Aside from these, there will also be a drum and bugle competition participated in by schools in the City; a t-shirt printing contest and a cheerleading workshop. Jimena brushed aside the financial problems, saying that pledges would materialize as the festival nears or thereafter.
The Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines, a national organization of tourism officers of local governments, has awarded the Dinagyang Festival as the Best Festival for three consecutive years. Dinagyang is also among the top placers in the Aliwan Festival.