Dinagyang attracts thousands of revelers

ILOILO CITY: The Dinagyang Festival, renowned globally for the spectacular performances of Ati-Atihan tribes, gets “better and better” every year, Mayor Jerry Treñas said.

“Dinagyang has indeed come a long way. It gets better and better every year, with more and more people coming to Iloilo City just to witness this grand festivity,” Treñas said on Sunday, January 28.

The festival’s highlight activities on January 27 and 28 were attended by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez; Senators Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Manuel “Lito” Lapid, Francis Tolentino, Christopher “Bong” Go; members of the diplomatic corps, foreign dignitaries, and some celebrities.

“This fusion of culture and faith is something we Ilonggos should be very proud of. We have elevated the celebration every year, and we never fail to amaze everyone with how we run the festival,” he added.

This year’s Dinagyang Festival featured major events, including ILOmination Street Dance, Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan, Ati-Atihan tribes competition, Sadsad sa Calle Real, and Dinagyang Food Festival, each reportedly drawing 30,000 spectators.

Dinagyang 2024 celebration is anchored on the theme, “Pagdayaw kay Señor Sto. Niño, Padayaw sang mga Ilonggo!”

Treñas said that Dinagyang is the country’s “best tourism festival,” citing the accolades it received locally and internationally.

The Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines Inc. (ATOP) Pearl Awards recognized the 2022 edition of the Dinagyang Festival as the Best Cultural Festival Award in the city category.

In 2021, ATOP also awarded the festival’s first online version as Best Tourism Practice during the Pandemic Special Category, while in 2020 as the grand champion in the Best Tourism Event (Festival) As Contemporary/Non-Traditional Expression category.

Iloilo Freedom Grandstand expansion

Meanwhile, Romualdez, in a short speech during the tribes competition, promised the city government that he would assist in sourcing funds for the expansion of the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.

He said that the world-renowned festival attracts thousands of spectators, which the grandstand can no longer accommodate.

“I always visit this beautiful Dinagyang Festival. But honestly, the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand is cramped, and I hope that I will get the support of the congressmen and senators to expand this grandstand a bit so that it won’t be crowded anymore,” he said.

The Iloilo Freedom Grandstand served as the main stage for key activities of the Dinagyang Festival, such as Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan and the Ati-Atihan tribes competition.

“This year, a new esplanade in front of the grandstand will start construction,” Romualdez said.