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[av_heading heading=’ Iloilo City launches Dinagyang 2018′ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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ILOILO City – The city government and Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. (IDFI) held the grand launching of Dinagyang Festival 2018 yesterday at the SM City Activity Center.
January next year is the 50th year of the world-famous festival.
A memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the city government and IDFI was signed at the launching.
“We are celebrating the 50th year of Dinagyang Festival, so expect the festivities to be grandiose,” said Alex Soncio, program head of the grand launching.
Dinagyang is Iloilo City’s version of the Ati-atihan celebrations widely observed not only in Panay Island but also in other parts of the country. It may not be as ancient as the one in Kalibo, Aklan but it is known more for the participants’ impressive choreography and striking costumes that reflect the ingenuity, craftsmanship and artistry of the Ilonggos.
Irong-Irong Dance Company opened the launching program yesterday, followed by a lively Hala Bira Iloilo performance by Tribu Salognon, this year’s festival champion.
Dinagyang is the Hiligaynon word for revelry or merrymaking. The festival started in 1967 when a replica of the image of the Sto. Niño (Child Jesus) was brought from Cebu to the San Jose parish.
The image, accompanied by devotees from Cebu, was enthusiastically received by the Ilonggos who danced on the streets of the city to the tune of rumbling drums.
The Iloilo City government was represented by Acting Mayor Jose Espinosa III in the MOA signing yesterday. The IDFI was represented by its president Ramon Cua Locsin and vice president Marissa Segovia.
The 50th Dinagyang logo was also unveiled.
A symbolic cake was lighted and there was a celebratory toast, too.
A Dinagyang Fashion Tribe show was one of the launching’s highlights. Participating tribes for the 2018 edition of the festival showcased their previous costumes.
Highlights of the festivity are on Jan. 26, 27 and 28, 2018.
The city government is allotting P18 million for the 2018 edition of the festival. The fund will be released to the IDFI that has been tasked to organize the January 2018 festival.
Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo, chairman of Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on appropriation, said P15 million of the budget would be used as subsidy for competing groups in the ati tribes competition and Kasadyahan regional festival.
“We will have something like 10 tribes in the ati competition,” said Peñaredondo.
There is an increase in the financial support to the tribes – P1 million for each ati tribe and P500,000 for each Kasadyahan contingent.
“Previously, we gave P500,000 subsidy for each participating group. However, realizing the cost of costumes, expenses for rehearsals and other incidental expenses in maintaining a tribe, it is high time to increase (the subsidy),” said Peñaredondo. (Iloilo City PIO/PN)
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