WANT TO JOINT another unique festival this January?
Look no further. There’s the colorful Dinagsa Festival of Cadiz City in northern Negros Occidental – the city’s distinctive take on the many ati-atihan activities celebrated across the country.
Held annually on the third week of January, Dinagsa Festival celebrates the people of Cadiz City’s love for mouthwatering seafood and local culture, and their devotion to the Holy Child Jesus.
This year is the 46th edition of the Dinagsa, which started in 1972 and was initially called “Cadiz City Ati-atihan Festival”. In 2002 it got a new, unique name.
Oh yes, visitors are treated with the Cadiznons’ unique brand of hospitality and friendliness – their way of affirming that, indeed, it is more fun in the Philippines, what with the rhythmic beating of drums and soot-covered performers dancing with wild abandon on the streets.
“Dinagsa” comes from the Hiligaynon root word “dagsa” which literally means rushing or coming over in hordes.
The word has a special meaning in Cadiz City because of an unusual incident nearly 53 years ago on May 5, 1967 – cetacean stranding.
A lot of whales beached on Cadiz’s shore. According to the surprised villagers, the whales were humungous – each measured 40 feet long and eight feet tall.
For many, it was a reminder of the abundance of Cadiz’s marine resources and that they must cherish these and thank the Señor Santo Niño for the blessings.
One inimitable feature of the Dinagsa Festival is the fun-filled crowd-favorite Lamhitanay – people (residents and visitors alike) wander the city’s streets and smother one another’s faces with colorful paint. Yes, be prepared to get colorfully painted and win lots of new friends!
Here’s a tip: Wear a white shirt and be a human canvas of many affable festival revelers. The kaleidoscope of colors would surprise you. Keep the shirt; make it your one-of-a-kind Dinagsa souvenir with lots of fun memories!
Today is Lamhitanay Day, arguably the 2020 Dinagsa Festival highlight. Join the fun!
A lot of festival activities have been carried out since the weeklong festival started. Among the standout crowd-drawing events were the Sinaot Cadiznon (Jan. 18), MuzikCadiz battle of the bands (Jan. 22), Open Breed Fun Match Dogshow (Jan. 18), Mountain Bike Circuit Challenge (Jan. 18), Pabiti-ay Tattoo Competition and Musicfest (Jan. 18), Zumba Fest (Jan. 24), Smudge photo contest, and Sub 1 10K Challenge (marathon).
Cadiz City, 65 kilometers north of Negros Occidental’s capital Bacolod City, is known for its agro-fishery resources due to its fertile agricultural lands and rich fishing grounds.
It traces its beginnings to the establishment of a traditional settlement in a place known as Cadiz Viejo, near the banks of the Hitalon River. Historical records showed that in 1861, the Spaniards came and named the settlement Cadiz because of its northern location which reminded them of the seaport by the same name in Spain.
Cadiz became a municipality independent from Saravia (now E.B. Magalona) in 1878.
In July 1967, Cadiz was inaugurated as a city by virtue of Republic Act No. 4894 which was passed by Congress on June 17, 1967./PN
