ILOILO – Turning Iloilo’s cultural heartbeat into a national showcase, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has challenged municipalities to invest in their local festivals and elevate them into world-class performances, as the provincial government capped the Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan Festival Research and Production Summit with a grand dinner show at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Lobby on September 7.
“We want Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan to be the cultural stage of the province,” Defensor declared before an audience of performers, cultural workers, and guests.
He added: “We need to have a stage for arts and culture, we have to share the arts of each municipality, the province, Iloilo City… our arts and cultural heritage are soul in municipalities. We want to develop our festivals for national level performance and competition. Wala pa isa ka tuig aton executive order which embodies our tourism, but we have achieved so much.”
The cultural dinner show transformed the Capitol Lobby into a stage for Ilonggo pride, featuring homegrown talents and diverse festival traditions through folk music, traditional dance, and storytelling that embodied the province’s tourism slogan: Fun, Foodie, Friendly Iloilo.
A show-stopping highlight came from the Sing Philippines Youth Choir (SPYC), a national ensemble supported by the Philippine Madrigal Singers, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the Andrea O. Veneracion Sing Philippines Foundation.
With powerful harmonies, the choir performed a repertoire that celebrated Filipino culture and capped its collaborative training during the summit.
Founded in 2014, SPYC has represented the country in international stages, and its participation in Iloilo underscored the summit’s message of teamwork, artistry, and cultural excellence.
Defensor also outlined his vision of festival development beginning at the barangay level, noting that each community has unique traditions worth preserving. He urged towns to integrate festivals into tourism programs and strengthen their place in the province’s cultural identity.
Vice Gov. Nathalie “Lee Ann” Debuque echoed the governor’s call, stressing the sustainability of Iloilo’s cultural scene.
“I am hopeful that through our collective efforts, our festivals will thrive as sustainable and meaningful celebrations that showcase the spirit of a Fun, Foodie, Friendly Iloilo,” she said.
The summit, capped by the dinner show, reaffirmed Iloilo’s reputation as a hub of tradition and creativity — and signaled a united commitment to shaping its festivals into celebrations fit for the national stage./PN
