ILOILO City – Revelers can look forward to exciting developments for the 57th staging of the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival on Jan. 24-26, 2025 organizers revealed during the kickoff of the 100-day countdown at SM City Iloilo on Friday night, October 18.
Next year’s Dinagyang staging is themed, “Buhi nga Pagtuo sa Kinabuhi sang mga Ilonggo.” This sums up the intertwining of Ilonggos’ faith, culture, and community. It is a call for everyone to reflect on how the Ilonggos’ faith has brought Iloilo City this far and, most importantly, to keep the faith strong as we go through every day of our lives.
“Dinagyang is more than just a celebration; it’s a vibrant expression sang aton kultura and our deep-rooted connection to Señor Santo Niño. It’s a time when we come together as a community to honor our heritage and showcase the incredible talent of our people,” said Allan Tan, president of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), which manages the festivity.
Tan, along with IFFI chairman Rito Carlos “Judgee” Peña, Iloilo City Acting Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas’ daughter Raisa Treñas-Chu, San Jose de Placer Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Nelson Zerda OSA, and SM City Iloilo Mall Manager Gilbert Domingo led the Dinagyang countdown kick-off.
Meanwhile, the foundation also revealed a new festival logo, featuring the values of Pangpahanggud (Growth), Debosyon (Devotion), Kaalam (Wisdom), Pagkamamugnaon (Creativity), Kabakod (Strength), and Pagkaisganan (Valor). Each value represents an element in the logo that creates an image of Señor Sto. Niño.
In a major shift, the Dinagyang Ati Tribes Competition, which is one of the festival highlights, will now feature an open category, where contingents from barangays and schools will compete head-to-head.
Eight official competing groups were officially introduced during the countdown. They also gave a sneak preview of their performances.
These are Tribu Paghidaet of La Paz National High School; Tribu Salognon of Jaro National High School; Tribu Parianon of Iloilo City National High School; Tribu Ilonganon of Jalandoni Memorial National High School; Tribu Pag-asa kang Manduryaw of Mandurriao National High School; Tribu Hangaway of Graciano Lopez Jaena Elementary School; Tribu Molave of Barangay San Rafael, Mandurriao; and Tribu Pan-ay of Fort San Pedro National High School.
Each competing tribe will be getting a subsidy amounting to P1.8 million, which is higher that this year’s P1.4 million. These will be distributed in tranches.
The official lineup of events for Dinagyang 2025 are the Pamukaw; Opening Salvo; Miss Iloilo Dinagyang; Señor Sto. Niño Fluvial Procession; Señor Sto. Niño Novena Mass; Religious Motorcade; Food Festival; Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan; Sponsors’ Mardi Gras; Grand Religious Sadsad; Dinagyang ILOmination Street Dance and Floats Parade Competition; Dinagyang Tribes Competition; and Feast Day of Señor Sto. Niño de Cebu Concelebrated High Mass.
“Over the next 100 days, we will experience a series of thrilling activities — colorful parades, captivating pagsinadya, and, of course, the mouthwatering flavors of our local pagkaon. Each event will remind us of the spirit of pagkakaisa that defines us as Ilonggos,” Tan added.
‘BRIGHTER’ ILOMINATION
IFFI also hinted at a revamped and brighter ILOmination, with various “lighted festivals” from across the country invited to compete.
“Our ILOmination will become a ‘Festival of Light Festivals of the Philippines.’ We will illuminate the nation and make our devotion to Señor Sto. Niño shine brighter,” said Eric Divinagracia, Festival Artistic Director of IFFI.
“Invitations were sent, and during our initial talks with them, this will be a competition,” he added.
IMMERSIVE ‘SADSAD SA CALLE REAL’
Just like this year’s Dinagyang, the Sadsad sa Calle Real Competition is being pushed further as a form of communal enjoyment.
“We want to emphasize our Sadsad sa Calle Real, which takes place in the afternoon after our Tribes Competition. We want our visitors to experience what Dinagyang is like on the streets. They are not just spectators,” said Joyce Clavecillas, Executive Director of IFFI.
Everyone may not just watch but also immerse themselves and dance with the tribes, during which the judges will choose the “Darling of the Crowd” award./PN
