Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival kicks off

ILOILO CITY – Iloilo’s top tourism event, the Dinagyang Festival, formally kicked off at the city’s Freedom Grandstand yesterday afternoon.

During the opening salvo, tribes showed the public a preview of what their performances would be during the festival highlight on Jan. 27.

Parts of the city proper were closed to vehicular to accommodate the performance of the tribes.

According to the event organizer, the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI), the opening salvo also signals the start of various Dinagyang-related activities organized by the private sector.

A citywide cleanup drive is scheduled today to “prepare the house for the arrival of its visitors,” as IDFI executive director and city tourism officer Benito Jimena put it.

Firetrucks will go around different districts this morning to signal the start of the cleanup.

Though still short of funds, the IDFI is promising a much-improved Dinagyang Festival this year.

For one, Tribu Ivatan from Batanes will be one of the competing groups. This is the first time that a contingent from outside Western Visayas is taking part in the city’s top tourist-drawer.

Also, the festival’s official color motif has been changed to dark brown for a more realistic portrayal of the native Atis.

There will also be a three-hour fireworks festival on Jan. 26 at the old airport site. Top fireworks manufacturers from around the country will be participating.