Dinagyang fest showcases Ilonggo resilience

MEMBERS of Tribu Salognon of Jaro National High School wow the audience with their colorful costumes and brisk movements during the Ati tribe dance contest of Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival. GUIJO DUENAS/INQUIRER VISAYAS

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—Ilonggos refused to be held down by the destruction of Super Typhoon Yolanda as hundreds of thousands packed the streets of this city on Sunday, the final day of the Dinagyang Festival.

Dinagyang, held every fourth Sunday of January, is among the festivals held in honor of the Sto. Niño.

With themes focusing on the environment and rising from despair, tribes wowed their audience with striking costumes, fast-paced dancing and props, including giant squids, wild boars and human-sized bats hanging from posts and caves.

Cheers of surprise and awe, and clapping filled the four judging areas along the route of the carousel-format dance contest, as 10 tribes competed for the grand championship.

“I used to watch the performances only on television. Seeing it live is exhilarating. Yes, it’s truly world-class,”said Iloilo-born lawyer Andre Palacios who was among the thousands of spectators at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.

The revelers and spectators reached a high of one million on Sunday, according to Chief Insp. Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo City police public information officer.

The tribes that performed on Sunday included the Angola, Salognon, Paghidaet, Baybayanon, Molave, Atub-Atub, Ilonganon, Panayanon (defending champion), Milagrosa and Obreros.

On Saturday, 11 tribes representing festivals in Western Visayas and groups in the city joined the Kasadyahan cultural presentation. These were the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival of Kalibo, Aklan; MassKara Festival of Bacolod City; Manggahan Festival of Guimaras;  Saad Festival of Leganes, Iloilo; Tribu Hugyaw of Silay City, Negros Occidental; Sinadya sa Halaran of Roxas City, Capiz; Busilak Pintaflores Festival of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental; Tribu Banigan Festival of Libertad, Antique; Tribu Panubli-on of Professional Electronics Institute; Hugyaw of St. Therese College, Iloilo City, and Pan-ay of Fort San Pedro National High School, Iloilo City.

The performance of Sinadya sa Halaran depicted the suffering brought by the super typhoon to Capiz province and how Capiceños stood up again.

A total of P770,000 in prizes were at stake for the Ati tribe dance contest, including P175,000 for the grand champion. Another P150,000 for best performance was to be given for the Kasadyahan cultural presentation.

Winners were expected to be announced on Sunday night.

Iloilo Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said this year’s festival faced financial constraints because most sponsors had also donated relief assistance to typhoon survivors. “But we were able to raise the needed funds,” Mabilog told the Inquirer.

In a speech during the opening program, Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor thanked those who helped Iloilo province, especially residents of the province’s northern towns that were devastated by the super typhoon. He said the Dinagyang Festival had always been a unifying event for Ilonggos. “This is an indubitable proof of the strength and resilience of Ilonggos,” he said.

Despite the calamities, city tourism officer Ben Jimena said the festival served as “a rallying point to bring back hope to go on with our lives despite difficulties.”

Mabilog said that with Dinagyang consistently topping competitions of festivals in the country, a delegation from the grand championship of the Ati dance contest would perform in Canada, the United States, Singapore and Hong Kong this year upon the invitation of various groups.