DAGOY, the official Ati mascot of the Dinagyang Festival, is now 19 years old.
This three-dimension (3D) festival icon was conceptualized in 2003 and introduced to the public the year after.
Towering at six feet and nine inches, Dagoy has successfully carved a name for himself and continues to stir public interest to be a part of the Dinagyang Festival.
He wears a fiberglass headdress bearing the picture of the Sto. Niño. The dominant colors are black and gold. He also has a camel-colored “bahag,” the typical attire of the Ati. But he likes changing his costume yearly, too.
His hands and feet are adorned with multi-colored bracelets, similar to the ones being worn by an Ati warrior.
A “jet-setting” friendly Ati kid, Dagoy had flown to Metro Manila, Dagupan, Santiago, Tagbilaran and Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija, among other places, to promote Iloilo City’s acclaimed celebration.
He had appeared, too, in various television shows such as Wowowee.
The mascot is serving his purpose well.
Dagoy’s birth was a product of imagination and desire of people working diligently to make the Dinagyang Festival more fun.
Did you know that before he became a 3D mascot, he was a mere caricature (drawing) in Dinagyang promotional material?
Drawing inspiration from his adopted daughter, Chris Bayani, an artist from Manila, delicately prepared the sketch of the icon that was later made as the official logo of the festival. The drawing then was seen on posters, t-shirts and streamers everywhere.
Later, the San Pablo Sineng Laya Corp. based in Las Piñas City, Metro Manila was tapped to prepare a life-size mascot of Dagoy.
Dagoy’s first public appearance was on Dec. 11, 2004 at D’Fort in Taguig City during the official launching of the Dinagyang Festival in Manila. He made his presence felt in Iloilo City during the Pamukaw on Dec. 18, 2004.
Now, wherever Dagoy goes, people are reminded of the Dinagyang Festival./PN
