Dinagyang wows Dagupan, Santiago City
The city’s premier festival, Dinagyang, strutted its stuff in Luzon, with performances in Dagupan and Santiago City recently.
Coming from its successful stint at the Aliwan Fiesta in Metro Manila, Dinagyang, represented by this year’s champion Tribu Paghida-et, was guest performer in the Festivals of the North won by Dagupan’s Bangus Festival, wherein 17 groups participated.
“(Our festival) was much anticipated by the crowd. It was truly one big emotional triumph for Dinagyang,” City Tourism Officer Benito Jimena said, who accompanied the Ilonggo delegation to Dagupan.
Aside from Dinagyang, Strawberry Festival of La Trinidad, Benguet and Ibon-Ebon Festival of Candaba, Pampanga also performed as guest contingents.
Jimena said the crowd reception in Santiago City, Isabela, was as warm as in Pangasinan, when the tribe went around three villages, performing in the marketplace, church vicinity and bus terminal.
Dinagyang participated as guest performer in the “Pattaraday Festival”, to celebrate the city’s foundation day. The week-long celebration brought together delegations from all over Cagayan Valley to compete in the Street Dance Contest.
Santiago City Mayor Amelita Navarro has been inviting Dinagyang to join their festivities since 2006.
Hailed as the best tourism event of the Philippines last year by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines, Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival has always been requested by other local government units to perform in their respective fiestas and to showcase the culture and tradition of the Ilonggos. (PIO)
