ILOILO City – Organizers of the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival 2027 are moving to address criticisms of previous celebrations, with major changes in judging locations, street festivities and religious activities aimed at restoring the festival’s traditional character and delivering a more organized celebration in January.
The planned improvements were unveiled during the festival’s 100-day countdown launch at SM City Iloilo on October 24, which also featured preview performances by the nine competing tribes.
Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) president Dr. Ronald Latap said preparations for next year’s festival would take into account negative feedback from the previous edition, signaling adjustments to several major activities.
Dinagyang is an annual religious and cultural celebration held every fourth Sunday of January to honor the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus) and commemorate the historical barter and friendly pact between the native Ati people and arriving Malay settlers on Panay Island.
Among the changes is the return of judging areas to the City Proper district, a move expected to bring the festival’s competitive performances back to the city’s traditional celebration grounds.
Organizers are also reviving colorful banderitas and expanding grassroots participation by involving barangays from all seven districts of Iloilo City in the Sadsad sa Calle Real.
The changes form part of efforts to make Dinagyang 2027 more orderly, vibrant and inclusive while strengthening the cultural and religious traditions that have defined the internationally recognized festival.
Latap said greater emphasis would also be placed on the religious dimension of Dinagyang, including plans for a bigger fluvial procession and expanded religious sadsad activities.
The Dinagyang 2027 competing groups are Tribu Pan-ay, Tribu Villahanon, Tribu Paghidaet, Tribu Salognon, Tribu Bola-Bola, Tribu Ilonganon, Tribu Silak, Tribu Taga-Baryo and Tribu Hugyaw.
Antique’s Binirayan Festival will also participate as a non-competing tribe, adding another cultural attraction to the celebration.
Meanwhile, 11 tribes have expressed their intention to compete in the Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan, further expanding the festival’s showcase of cultural traditions from participating communities.
Mayor Raisa Treñas, in her message during the countdown launch, underscored the significance of Dinagyang as an expression of Ilonggo identity, faith and heritage.
“Dinagyang is the story of who we are as Ilonggos,” Treñas said.
“Sa patik-patik sang drums, colorful costumes, kag faithful devotion sang aton mga pumuluyo, makita naton ang kaanyag sang aton kultura kag pagtuo,” she added.
Treñas also cited the recognition earned by the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival 2025, which won the Best Tourism Event: Cultural Festival category at the 2026 Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) Pearl Awards.
She described the award as a collective achievement of Ilonggos, reflecting the festival’s theme, “Buhi nga Pagtuo sa Kinabuhi sang mga Ilonggo.”
The word “dinagyang” comes from the Hiligaynon word “dagyang” which means “merrymaking” or “revelry”. It was proposed in 1977 by broadcaster Pacifico Sudario to give the event its own identity, having previously been known as the Iloilo Ati-Atihan.
The celebration began in 1967 when a replica of the Señor Santo Niño de Cebu was brought to Iloilo City.
The main highlights of Dinagyang 2027 are scheduled for January 22 to 24, with organizers preparing a combination of competitive cultural performances, religious observances and community-based festivities./PN
