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[av_heading heading=’City hall now unsure of Duterte’s Dinagyang visit ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY CAROLYN JANE ABELLO
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ILOILO City – The city government is now unsure of President Rodrigo Duterte gracing the Dinagyang Festival this month.
Although preparations for the presidential visit are continuing, Mayor Jose Espinosa III said he lowered his expectation to “50 percent.”
The President has scheduled visits to India and Israel this month, said Espinosa, citing information from Malacañang’s appointment office.
“International commitments ina so ti tan-awon ta (if the President can squeeze Dinagyang into his schedule),” said Espinosa.
The mayor personally invited Duterte to grace the 50th anniversary of Dinagyang during a visit to Malacañang on Nov. 23, 2017.
The two-day highlights of the festival are on Jan. 27 (Kasadyahan cultural contest) and Jan. 28 (ati-ati tribes competition).
Days after Espinosa’s Malacañang visit, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte accepted Espinosa’s invitation.
According to the mayor yesterday, the city government’s security preparation for the presidential visit included 20 vehicles.
“Two sets of parehas (vehicle) kay para may decoy,” said Espinosa.
Aside from the security challenge that Duterte’s visit poses, the President’s time of arrival is also a concern.
Should the visit push through, Espinosa said Duterte may arrive at around 2 p.m. But this is way past either the Kasadyahan or ati-ati tribes contests that are traditionally held in the morning.
Espinosa said the city government is exploring the possibility of a “repeat performance” of the contesting tribes in the afternoon.
Last month, Espinosa said the President could address the Ilonggos during the program if he wanted to, and only the country’s chief executive would be given such opportunity to speak and nobody else.
The mayor said he would ban “epal” speeches and tarpaulins during the Dinagyang.
In Filipino slang, “epal” describes a person shamelessly presenting himself in a situation.
Duterte’s visit would be deemed a signal that the President has moved on from his constant tirade against Iloilo as “most shabulized” and “bedrock of drugs.”
Since August 2016, he had accused Espinosa’s predecessor Jed Patrick Mabilog of being an illegal drug protector.
In October 2017, the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed Mabilog from government services for unexplained wealth. Then vice mayor Espinosa was appointed mayor.
The following month, Duterte welcomed Espinosa to Malacañang.
Dinagyang is Iloilo City’s version of the Ati-atihan celebrations widely observed not only in Panay Island but also in other parts of the country. It may not be as ancient as the one in Kalibo, Aklan but it is known more for the participants’ impressive choreography and striking costumes that reflect the ingenuity, craftsmanship and artistry of the Ilonggos.
Dinagyang is the Hiligaynon word for revelry or merrymaking. The festival started in 1967 when a replica of the Sto. Niño de Cebu was brought to the San Jose Church.
The image, accompanied by devotees from Cebu, was enthusiastically received by the Ilonggos who danced on the streets of the city to the tune of rumbling drums./PN
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