January 29, 2008 | 12:00am
After surviving the Sinulog Festival last week, I’m here in the midst of Dinagyang fever in Iloilo City. Actually, I’m writing this column in between the performances of 20 ati-atihan tribes at the Freedom Grandstand. I’m also wearing ear plugs so I could still hear you when I get back. Each tribe is allowed only 30 drummers, so that’s 600 drummers attempting to shatter your eardrums while the sound baffles go full blast.
It seems everybody is here in Iloilo. Earlier almost all the street corners had concerts while the malls brought the movie stars. Parokya ni Edgar, Bamboo, Bloomfields, Imago, and Sitti, just to mention a few. The movie stars included Angel Locsin, Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, Jolina Magdangal, Kempee De Leon, Derek Ramsay and Angelica Panganiban. Politicians are also visible here, Sen. Mar Roxas, Sen. Dick Gordon, Sen. Manny Villar, DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzales, Mrs. Elaine Hagedorn and Baguio City Mayor Rey Bautista. Sports activities are also happening at the same time. There’s the Dinagyang Swimming Competition at the Iloilo Sports Complex where Cebus’ Blue Marlin’s joined, the Dinagyang Golf Tournament and a national shootfest. Of course the world’s famous Jaro cockfighting derby is also happening with a million pesos at stake.
DINAGYANG MARATHON
At the swimming competition, I met Councilor Joe Espinosa III, chairman of the Iloilo Sports Council and sports coordinator Jojo Castro. Joe asked me if we could revive the Dinagyang Marathon next year. Actually Joe and Jojo saw my Sinulog Half Marathon t-shirt and told me “Ako na gi bayaan ang Iloilo” So I promised to organize a marathon for Dinagyang next year.
But the duo said they want an event here earlier and prefer a midnight run since they’ve heard so much of the Cebu edition. I’ll probably do it on Halloween. I’m scheduled to do another Kiddie Run at the SM City Carpark in the summer.
But before that, I’ve got to fulfill my promise to Annie Neric of Holiday Gym and Spa to direct their 10k run on March 30. The following day, I’m back in Iloilo for the International Mountain Bike Competition to be held in Guimaras.
Meanwhile, I’ve got to go and join my tribu Casa Ilongga. By the way, Dinagyang bested the Sinulog at the tourism event last year. Hala Bira Gid!
