2013 Dinagyang Festival opens

ILOILO CITY, Philippines - The excitement of Dinagyang Festival 2013 can already be felt around the city with the opening salvo held yesterday (Jan 18).

Dinagyang, the highlights of which will start on January 25, opened with DepEd's Tambor Trumpa Martsa Musika, a drum and bugle parade from the Capitol to the Freedom Grandstand, followed in the afternoon by a fluvial procession along the river segment from Fort San Pedro, disembarking in front of the Aduana, and then the land route passing the river bank along Muelle Loney to the Arroyo Fountain and back to San Jose Church.

On Saturday (January 26), the Kasadyahan Regional Cultural Competition takes the morning schedule and the Sponsors Mardi Gras follows after lunch.  The Dinagyang Ati Contest starts right after the Sunday morning mass.

The Dinagyang Dance Showdown and Street Dancing Competition (Ati Grand Parade and Competition) is one of the main events of the Dinagyang. It is a competition among "tribes" with warriors donned in striking attires that reflect the ingenuity, craftsmanship and artistry of Ilonggos, dancing in impressive choreography.

There will be eleven Ati contingents competing in this year's Dinagyang on January 27. These are Tribus Angola, Aninipay, Atub-Atub, Buntatalan-on, Ilonganon, Milagrosa, Miro (Guest), Molave, Pag-asa, Panayanon and Salognon.

Meanwhile, participants in the Kasadyahan Festival Regional Cultural Competition are: Salakayan -of Miagao town in Iloilo; Hubon Saranggola sa Manggahan (Guimaras); Hubon Binagtong sa Manggahan sa Guimaras; Tribu Hugyaw (St. Therese MTC Colleges); Olalong (Cabalum Western College); Tribu Pagdayaw (Dumarao, Capiz); Tribu Kaing (Leon, Iloilo); Hugyaw Kansilay (Silay City, Negros Occidental); Tribu Saludan (Tigbauan, Iloilo), Tribu Bayluhay (San Joaquin, Iloilo); Pahinis de Laua-an (Laua-an, Antique); and Tribu Mandaragat (San Jose de Buenavista, Antique).

This year's parade route is reverted to carousel around the City Proper Circuit Eight with four judging areas: Freedom Grandstand, Capitol, Quezon-Ledesma, and Iznart-Ma. Clara.

The festival management looks at carousel as the better option at the moment as it allows other events to be presented at the sports oval and parade crowd control becomes more manageable when concentrated in the City Proper. 

Other activities of Dinagyang will be the Mayor's Cup Golf Tournament to be held at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club in Sta. Barbara town from January 19 and 20; the 1st Iloilo Travel Mart from January 19 to 25; Miss Dinagyang pageant finals at the University of San Agustin Gym on January 23; and the arrival of the image of Sto. Niño de Cebu at the Iloilo Arrastre.

The fireworks show, Luces in the Sky, will be on January 24 and 25; the food festival by the Iloilo Hotels Restaurants Resorts Association from January 24 to 27; the Religious Sadsad is in front of the San Jose Church on January 25; awarding night on January 27; and the thanksgiving mass on January 28. (FREEMAN)