Dinagyang Festival Opening Salvo today
Iloilo City will be a fes ve des na on as it opens the 2019 Iloilo Dinagyang Fes val today with an opening salvo featuring different tribes that will be par cipa ng in the event highlights two weeks from now.
In 2001, I was tapped by thenIloilo City Councilor Rolando Dabao and Larry Jamora to serve as fes val manager and introduce innova ve ideas for the annual celebra on. That year, I organized the Iloilo Dinagyang Friendship Golf Tournament with Lito Doran, a beauty pageant with Ted Mino, and the Dinagyang Corporate Parade.
I also ini ated several rules that year, including the controlling and monitoring tarp installa ons.
Several years later, the Iloilo Dinagyang Fes val remains an ins tu on of revelry and fun, where thousands gather in Iloilo City to witness the drumbea ng days and nights of food and fes vity.
The fes val is s ll successfully managed by the Iloilo Dinagyang Founda on Inc., which establishes viewing stages across the city for revelers to view various performances.
In addi on, with elec ons this May, candidates will be flooding the fes val, making sure they are seen.
This year, Department of Tourism-Region VI (DOT-6) director, A y. Helen J. Catalbas, announced she will bring together DOTaccredited establishments to join the Iloilo Dinagyang Fes val for the “Saturday highlights” as a way to boost camaraderie across the department.
I salute the fes val organizers and all those suppor ng the event in making it a fruiul tourism promo on opportunity for the Western Visayas.
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This column greets Ma n Arandez‐Perez, Boyet Ortaliz, Francis Chu, Robert Alor, Phoebe Mamon, Arlene Florete, Troy Camarista, Mikmik Jimenez, Marlon Navarro, Armand Agdon, Emmanuel Tiples, Ariston Minez, Jr., and Panoy Gonzalez.