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by Rhick Lars Vladimer Albay
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February 2, 2018
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IBC lauds ‘inclusivity’ as celebration broadens outside City Proper
ILOILO City – “I must say, I think this [recently-concluded] Dinagyang Festival has been the biggest Iloilo City has had so far,” executive director of Iloilo Business Club Lea Lara told Panay News on Thursday.
Lara remarked that this year Iloilo City welcomed record foot traffic for the Dinagyang weekend, as celebrations and events also spread to other areas of the growing metropolis, outside of Iloilo City Proper.
“In terms of foot traffic, in terms of attendance of activities, and the coverage of events, this was definitely a bigger and grander Dinagyang,” expressed Lara. “We’re happy to see events and festivities spread to other venues, and not just at the city’s center alone. It is a truly a fitting commemoration of the Dinagyang’s 50th anniversary.It’s come a long way from the simple fiesta of the San Jose Parish Church.”
Though the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. (IDFI) has yet to consolidate data on foot traffic and tourist arrivals in the city for the Dinagyang festivities held Jan. 27 to 28, Lara says it is already safe to assume the event has more than lived up – possibly even exceeded – their expectations.
“Judging from the crowds, I think it’s the largest that we’ve had. Even at the Iloilo Business Park, Megaworld area, near Plazuela de Iloilo and SM City, punosiya[during the weekend],” related Lara. “Our city has a lot of new spaces and venues to offer. It’s good nahindisiya mag-concentrate saisalangka area so people will get to enjoy different parts of Iloilo.”
Prior to the Dinagyang weekend, Lara also a member of IDFI, told reporters they were girding for the arrival of both domestic and foreign tourists, as they expect nearly two million people to join the revelry in the “City of Love.”
“We’ve been having an estimate of one million over the weekend. But since our street parties have doubled, it should be a record breaker of about 1.5 million to 1.8 million,” shared the IBC executive.
For the duration of the main events of the Dinagyang Festival, the entire 3,200-room capacity of Department of Tourism-accredited hotels in the city were all declared fully-booked.
INCLUSIVE DINAGYANG
Lara also lauded the “inclusivity” of the 50th Dinagyang Festival seeing the event impact positively not only large business establishments, but also budding startup businesses, as well as small and medium enterprises.
“One really sees the values of inclusivity in the Dinagyang Festival. The larger crowds not only benefit our malls and hotels, but also small businesses – even ambulant vendors – as this meant more potential customers for them and more means to earn their livelihood,” expressed Lara.
IDFI kiosk committee headJoeffreyAgilles said some 950 kiosks were erected for theDiangyang food festival between Jan. 26 to 28.Kiosks – mostly offering food and refreshments to the Dinagyang Festival’s revelers – were located along Iznart Street from Arroyo Fountain to Plazoleta Gay, Valeria Street, Delgado Street, and Solis Street./PN
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