Iloilo City tightens security ahead of Dinagyang Festival
ILOILO CITY—A gun ban will be imposed in this city from Jan. 19 to Jan. 29 to prevent atrocities during the Dinagyang Festival activities that will be held during the same period.
Police Lt. Col. Rene Obregon, chief of the operations management unit of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), said smoking in public places will also be strictly disallowed in connection with the city’s antismoking campaign.
“We want to ensure the safety of everyone during the duration of the festivities,” Obregon said in a radio interview on Friday. Police Maj. Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO’s spokesperson, reminded the public to remain security-conscious and observant to prevent any untoward incidents.
Police officers were strategically deployed to each judging area to manage the crowd and ensure the overall security of the event, she said.
Iloilo City was filled with vibrant colors as drum beats were heard everywhere during the launching on Friday of this year’s edition of Dinagyang Festival, held here every fourth week of January in honor of the Santo Niño, or the Child Jesus.
The city’s streets were transformed into a lively stage for the competing tribes, showcasing their unique cultural heritage and dynamic performances.
‘Best tourism event’
Dubbed as the country’s “Best Tourism Event” by the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines from 2006 to 2008, Dinagyang showcases Iloilo City’s rich culture through parades and tribal street dances, which are marked by chants of “Hala Bira!” and “Viva Señor Santo Niño!”
For this year, eight “Ati tribes” from different schools in the city will be participating as dancing contingents: Tribu Taga-Baryo (Bo. Obrero National High School), Tribu Mandu-riyaw (Mandurriao), Tribu Paghidaet (La Paz), Tribu Pan-ay (Fort San Pedro), Tribu Salognon (Jaro), Tribu Sigabong (Ramon Avanceña), Tribu Ilonganon (Jalandoni), Tribu Silak (Iloilo City).
The weeks-long festivities opened with a Mass at the San Jose Placer Parish followed by a program at the Freedom Grandstand at 3 p.m. that featured the unity dance of seven Ati tribes participating in the “Dinagyang Ilomination” while five barangay-based tribes performed the “Sadsad sa Calle Real.”
“Preparation, coordination and execution of our tribes are already in full swing, and everyone is excited to once again witness a spectacular religious and cultural celebration,” Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said in a message.
At 1 p.m. on Jan. 26, a fluvial procession of the image of the Child Jesus will be held along the Iloilo River. The following day, the Grand Religious Sadsad (merrymaking) will take place at the San Jose Placer Parish Church. On Jan. 28, a ceremony at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand will mark the end of the festivities.
Dinagyang, then called “Ati-atihan” of Iloilo, started in 1968 when Fr. Sulpicio Enderes, OSA, with a delegation of the Cofradia de Cebu, brought to Iloilo City a replica of the image of Santo Niño de Cebu. The image was taken to San Jose Parish Church where it is enshrined until now.
In 1977, organizers changed “Ati-Atihan” to “Dinagyang” from the Hiligaynon word “dagyang,” or merrymaking, to avoid duplicating the Ati-atihan Festival of Kalibo in Aklan province.
Dinagyang is held every fourth Sunday of January while Ati-Atihan, like the Sinulog Festival of Cebu, is held every third Sunday of January. -Ruchelle Denice Demaisip
