“Tribe” contingent disqualified from joining Dinagyang

ILOILO CITY, Philippines -- A "tribe" competitor has been disqualified from participating in the Dinagyang Festival 2014 for its failure to meet the required number of "warriors" for the ati-ati competition during the festival highlight on January 26.

City tourism officer Benito Jimena said the disqualified contingent is the Tribu Aninipay of Don Esteban, Lapuz in La Paz district of this city.

Jimena said Aninipay did not come up with the required number of participants to compose its warriors, dancers and drummers.

Tribu Aninipay manager Rainier Carado has already received P150,000 subsidy out of the P280,000 subsidy given by the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. to help the tribes' financial help on costumes, props, transportation and food. The IDFI had allocated P3.6 million in subsidy for the competing tribes.

Before the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) and the distribution of subsidy, participating tribes were reminded of making the best they can, improving their performances, dance steps, customs, and choreography otherwise they will be banned from joining in future staging of the festival.

"We have given them last chance to join with us after seeing their 'Pamukaw 'performance last December. We have an agreement with them because we have also given them subsidy. We want tribes to be cooperative with us so that nothing will put into waste," said Jimena.

Jimena said the MOA will make sure that participating tribes will perform well to help promote Dinagyang as one of the world-class festivals.

With the disqualification of Tribu Aninipay, only 10 tribes will be competing: The defending champion Panayanon of Iloilo City National High School; Paghidaet of La Paz NHS; Atub-atub of Veterans Village; Ilonganon of Jalandoni Memorial NHS; Obreros of Brgy. Buntatala in Jaro district; Angola of Quezon-Delgado Street; Molave sa R.G. Hechanova of Brgy. MV Hechanova in Jaro; Salognon of Jaro NHS; Baybayanon (former Tribu Pag-asa) of Melchor Nava NHS; and Milagrosa of Brgy. Poblacion Ilawod in Passi City.

Each tribe will perform for 10 minutes in each of the four judging areas at the Freedom Grandstand, Capitol, Quezon-Ledesma and Ma. Clara streets.  (FREEMAN)