ILOILO City – Next year’s staging of the world-famous Dinagyang Festival would be showcasing Ilonggo values and resiliency in the middle of the coronavirus public health crisis.
Like Ati warriors, the Ilonggos are united and able to withstand the challenges brought by the pandemic, said Dr. Ronald Raymond Sebastian, president of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI).
The 2022 festival theme is “Padayon Iloilo Upod kay Señor Santo Niño.”
“We celebrate Dinagyang because of our devotion to Señor Sto. Niño. But we would also like to showcase and emphasize the values of the Ilonggos,” Sebastian said in a virtual briefing yesterday.
Sebastian confirmed there would be a tribe competition, albeit pre-recorded.
This was being finalized, said Joyce Clavecillas, executive director of IFFI.
“It will not be the same sang face-to-face kay we have limitations pa sa budget and it is quite challenging to raise funds,” said Clavecillas.
Sebastian said they are targeting a P9 to P9.5-million budget for next year’s Dinagyang.
According to Eric Divinagracia, director of the Dinagyang Tribes Competition, seven tribes representing the seven districts of the city namely La Paz, Lapuz, Mandurriao, Jaro, Arevalo, Molo, and City Proper, will be competing.
Each tribe will showcase seven Ilonggo values: La Paz (paghirupay), Lapuz (pag-intindihanay), Mandurriao (pagpahanggod), Jaro (pagtipon), Villa (pagsinadya), Molo (pag-amligay), and City Proper (paghigugma).
“Kon tingbon mo ini sila tanan, malab-ot naton ang pagpadayon,” said Divinagracia.
He noted that Dinagyang will not limit to the story of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) but will be inclusive of the story of the Ilonggos.
It will also emphasize the Ilonggo as a Dinagyang warrior through Ilonggo stories and Dagyang movements inspired by heritage.
The tribe performances would be premiered live.
During the filming, there will be three to four cameras to be set up and directed by Ilonggo filmmakers.
The judges will watch the performance either live or through the filmed videos.
Dinagyang 2022 will be watched through a 360 turn-around. It could be viewed from various vantage points, digital and real time.
Meantime, Divinagracia noted that the participants in the Dinagyang competition are aged 18 to 50 and are fully vaccinated against COVID-19./PN
