ILOILO — The city and orovince of Iloilo emerged as cultural powerhouses during the 127th Philippine Independence Day celebration in Metro Manila, bagging top awards in two competitions that highlighted the country’s rich history and heritage.
Leading the wins was the Tultugan Festival of Maasin town, declared champion of the Festival Performance Competition, followed closely by Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival as first runner-up.
Meanwhile, the “Cry of Santa Barbara” float, representing Iloilo Province, clinched first runner-up honors in the Historical Float Design Competition.
The results, released by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) shortly after the June 12 “Parada ng Kalayaan,” affirm Iloilo’s excellence in showcasing local culture and history through world-class festival performances and thematic float designs. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos personally witnessed the presentations.
Tultugan Festival, which celebrates Maasin’s bamboo industry and musical traditions using the indigenous tultugan bamboo percussion instrument, wowed the crowd with a dynamic performance combining rhythm, storytelling, and cultural pride. It marks another milestone for the municipality, having also won the Kasadyahan Festival in Iloilo for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025).
“With hearts full of pride and gratitude, we raise our drums in celebration,” said Maasin’s Mayor Francis Amboy. “Each beat of the bamboo drum tells a story of resilience, unity, and love for heritage.” Amboy noted that even the First Family applauded the Tultugan performance.
Dinagyang Festival, represented by Tribu Pan-ay, continued its tradition of excellence, reaffirming Iloilo City’s global reputation for festival artistry.
Mayor Jerry Treñas lauded both the Tultugan and Dinagyang contingents, saying, “Iloilo is truly the home of champion festivals. Our artists have once again shown the nation the depth of Ilonggo culture, skill, and creativity.”
In the float competition, the “Cry of Santa Barbara” float was lauded for its depiction of the first raising of the Philippine flag outside Luzon — a historical milestone that took place in Iloilo. While it won champion in 2024, this year’s first runner-up finish still reflects its powerful historical narrative and aesthetic execution.
Other winners in the Festival Performance Competition include the Maytime Festival of San Jose National High School, Antipolo City (2nd runner-up), while the Ikkis ti Candon float from Ilocos Sur was named champion in the float category.
The NHCP expressed gratitude to all participating contingents from various regions, including Cavite, Bago City, Dasmariñas, Bulacan, Lanao del Sur, and Aurora, acknowledging their efforts to revive and showcase historical events through cultural expressions.
First Lady Liza Marcos personally thanked Iloilo governor Arthur Defensor Jr. and Mayor Treñas for their contributions to the Independence Day festivities.
“Wow, you guys really put on a show — unbelievable! All the dancers, all the props, everything was beautiful. Daghang salamat,” she said.
The formal awarding ceremonies will be announced soon, according to the NHCP./PN
