Fund lack, credit crunch fail to dampen Dinagyang Fest
The pall of the global economic slowdown failed to dampen the festive mood during yesterday’s highlight of the Dinagyang Festival.
An estimated 1.5 million joined in the Dinagyang merrymaking, Mayor Jerry Treñas said.
Senators Mar Roxas, Francis Escudero, Manny Villar, Jamby Madrigal, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Ramon Revilla Jr., visited the city during the Dinagyang. Metro Manila Development Authority chair Bayani Fernando also came with his wife, Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando.
There were also several foreign VIPs, such as Chinese consul general He Shijing, Alistair Macdonald from the European Union, and several executives from the World Bank. Big media networks also brought in some big screen talents to put up shows in the days leading to Sunday’s highlight.
But, the drumbeats, the colorful costumes and the choreographed dancing in honor of the child Jesus could not hide the rippling effect the worldwide economic crisis has on the city’s annual tourist attraction and its organizers.
Too, ironically, officials cannot help but recall the trauma caused by Typhoon Frank in a time of merrymaking.
In his opening messages during the Kasadyahan competition on Saturday and the Ati tribes contest Sunday, Mayor Jerry Treñas said that the Dinagyang Festival is “a clear manifestation that Iloilo has recovered.”
Though event organizer, the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. fell short of its P10 million budget, still it was able to put through with this year’s Dinagyang.
As of Sunday, it was only able to gather around P6 million courtesy of its government sponsors. City Hall gave P3.7 million; Rep. Raul Gonzalez, P500,000; and the Provincial Government, P250,000.
“Praise the Lord! All things work out for good for those who love him,” IDFI executive committee chair Ricardo Andrada told The News Today.
With additional pledges from several national figures and big corporate sponsors, Andrada expressed optimism that they will be able to cover all the expenses they incurred.
“Budgetary problems are not a big factor,” city tourism director Ben Jimena said.
“What is important,” he stressed, “is the cooperation of everybody.”
Competing tribes this year have noticeably less warriors and less costume on their bodies compared to previous Dinagyangs.
“Signs of the times,” Jimena said, commenting on the observation that warriors were generally ‘less costume, more skin.’ But he justified this, saying that the true Atis are really almost naked.
The number of competing tribes this year was 17, down by three participants from last year’s. It was reported that one tribe threatened to back out because of financial difficulties. According to Jimena, tribes must have at least P500,000 to be able to put up an average performance.