BY MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO – The provincial government is on track with the preparation for its premiere hosting of the “Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan,” a major event of the Dinagyang Festival 2024.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. on Tuesday, Nov. 21, said they are constantly coordinating with the Iloilo City Government and Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) to further enhance the event.
He added that the Provincial Tourism Office had designated teams for planning ang organizing the “Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan” set for Jan. 27, 2024, preceding the main “Dagyang sa Barangay” tribes competition on Jan. 28.
The governor earlier emphasized that hosting the said event aligns with the province’s new tourism slogan, “Fun, Foodie, Friendly Iloilo.”
The provincial government has provisionally earmarked P5.970 million for the hosting of the “Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan.”
Per the provincial government’s preliminary proposal, every participating group in the Kasadyahan will be granted a P500,000 subsidy. Cash prizes will be distributed as follows: P500,000 for the champion, P300,000 for the first runner-up, and P200,000 for the second runner-up. Special awards, including Best in Choreography, Best in Performance, Best in Music, Best in Costume, Best in Street Dance, Best in Production Design, and Best in Discipline, will come with P10,000 each.
Meanwhile, Defensor said the selection of festivals that would be joining the Kasadyahan competition is yet to be discussed, adding that the 42 festivals across the province cannot be all accommodated.
To recall, Tribu Jalaud from Calinog, Iloilo clinched the championship title during the “Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan 2023,” outperforming seven other festivals from Iloilo, Antique, and Negros Occidental./PN
