ILOILO City – The first-ever ILOmination Philippine Light Festival, a national showcase of light festivals from across the country, is set to dazzle spectators tonight. This city is pioneering the event as part of this year’s Dinagyang Festival.
Organized by the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), the event will feature five celebrated light festivals competing to outshine one another with their blazing performances and costumes.
Participating in this groundbreaking event are Oriental Mindoro’s Pandang Gitab, Tuguegarao’s Pav-vurulun Afi Festival, San Jose del Monte Bulacan’s Tanglawan Festival, Zamboanga City’s Hermosa Festival, and Negros Occidental’s Bailes de Luces.
Iloilo’s very own Bana-ag Festival from Anilao town and Tribu Sidlangan, the champion of the 2024 Dinagyang ILOmination event, will perform as special guests.
“This collaboration not only highlights the diversity of Philippine festivals but also strengthens Dinagyang’s position as a premier cultural event,” said Elvert Bañares, IFFI director for Arts and Culture Initiatives, in a press briefing.
Bringing other light festivals to Iloilo fosters cultural exchange, promotes the city’s artistry, and showcases Filipino creativity on a national stage, he added.
The ILOmination concept, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to symbolize light and hope in communities. It seeks to celebrate shared faith, artistry, and Filipino resilience through its grand display of illuminated performances.
For this year’s pioneering event, each participating group has received a P500,000 subsidy from the IFFI to support their performances.
The contingents arrived in Iloilo City on January 22, and had rehearsals yesterday 23.
The grand showcase tonight – which will also feature a “parade of lights” – will take place in the following performance areas in Mandurriao district:
* Atria
* SM City Iloilo
* Iloilo Business Park
The IFFI expressed optimism that this national collaboration will inspire more light festivals to join in future editions, solidifying Dinagyang’s reputation as a symbol of cultural pride and unity./PN
