ILOILO City – This city’s flagship Dinagyang Festival emerged as the country’s best cultural tourism festival, leading a five-award haul for the city at the 2026 Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) Pearl Awards, where its achievements in heritage preservation, tourism promotions, local products and event hosting also earned national recognition.
The city secured two top awards, two first runner-up finishes and one finalist distinction during the awarding ceremony held on October 21 in Ormoc City, Leyte, further strengthening its reputation as a major cultural and tourism destination in the Philippines.
Leading the city’s victories was the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival 2025, which was declared champion in the Best Tourism Event: Cultural Festival category.
The festival, which carried the theme “Buhi nga Pagtuo sa Kinabuhi sang mga Ilonggo,” earned the distinction for its celebration of religious devotion, cultural traditions and the enduring faith of the Ilonggo people.
The national recognition further cemented Dinagyang’s standing as one of Iloilo City’s most important tourism attractions and a major showcase of its cultural identity.
Iloilo City also captured the grand winner award in the Best Tourism Souvenirs (Non-Food) category for “Modern Ilongga: Preserving Heritage, Empowering Women.”
The award recognized the initiative’s integration of Ilonggo heritage and cultural identity into tourism products while promoting women’s empowerment and participation in economic activities.
In tourism promotions, the city placed first runner-up in the Best Tourism Promotions: Brochure category for “Meet and Taste Iloilo,” a promotional initiative highlighting its tourism attractions and distinctive culinary offerings.
The recognition underscored the city’s efforts to strengthen its appeal as a destination not only for cultural experiences but also for gastronomy and local heritage.
Iloilo City likewise earned first runner-up honors in the Best Event Hosting (International) category for hosting the IPSC Action Air World Shooting Championship.
The distinction highlighted the city’s capability to accommodate international sporting competitions and major gatherings involving participants from different countries.
Completing its five recognitions, Iloilo City was named a finalist in the Best Event Hosting (Local) category for the 16th National Food Showdown 2025.
The city’s strong showing across different award categories reflected the expanding scope of its tourism development initiatives, which now encompass cultural preservation, heritage-inspired products, culinary promotions and the hosting of major local and international events.
The awards also demonstrated how Iloilo City has leveraged its distinctive traditions and local creativity to strengthen its tourism identity beyond its established festivals.
Dinagyang continues to serve as a major platform for showcasing Ilonggo faith and cultural heritage, while initiatives such as Modern Ilongga illustrate the potential of tourism to support cultural preservation and women’s economic participation.
Meanwhile, the recognition for Meet and Taste Iloilo reinforced the importance of promoting local cuisine and tourism attractions as complementary drivers of visitor interest.
The ATOP Pearl Awards recognize outstanding tourism programs, events and initiatives undertaken by local government units and tourism stakeholders nationwide./PN
