BY MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO City – Tickets for the Ati tribes competition of the 2025 Dinagyang Festival on January 26 have sold out, indicating a strong public excitement for Iloilo City’s premier cultural event.
According to the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI), the tickets, which went on sale online on December 15, 2024, were quickly snapped up by eager Ilonggos and tourists.
The convenience of online purchasing contributed to the rapid sellout of tickets for the main festival event, which featured a range of price options to cater to different audiences.
While the Ati competition tickets are no longer available, festival-goers can still secure spots for the Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan competition, slated for January 25.
Tickets for this event are open for the Mabini-Delgado and Quezon-Ledesma viewing stages.
The Kasadyahan competition, a prelude to the main Ati tribes contest, showcases cultural presentations from Iloilo municipalities, celebrating local heritage and traditions.
Renowned for its electrifying street dancing, rhythmic drumbeats and colorful costumes mirroring Ilonggo artistry, the Dinagyang Festival has become a major draw for both local and international tourists.
This year’s festivities are set to be even grander, with new features such as enhanced stage designs and extended routes.
Festival organizers encourage those interested in the Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan to secure tickets promptly to avoid missing out on the celebration’s rich cultural offerings.
Dinagyang, a cultural and religious celebration, is held annually on the fourth Sunday of January in honor of the Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus). It began in 1967 when a replica of the Santo Niño de Cebu was brought to the San Jose Parish Church in Iloilo City by Father Sulpicio Enderez, accompanied by the Cofradia de Cebu. This event sparked the devotion to the Santo Niño among Ilonggos.
Initially, the festival was a simple religious observance confined to the parish. Over time, it evolved into a vibrant cultural celebration, incorporating street dancing and tribal performances inspired by the Ati-Atihan Festival of Kalibo, Aklan.
In 1977, to distinguish it from other similar festivals, the late Ilonggo broadcaster and writer Pacifico Sumagpao Sudario coined the term “Dinagyang”, derived from the Hiligaynon word “dagyang”, meaning “merrymaking”.
The festival has since grown into a major tourist attraction, featuring events such as the Ati tribes competition, where performers in elaborate costumes and body paint depict the indigenous Ati people through choreographed dances and drumbeats.
Dinagyang has received numerous accolades, including being voted the best tourism event for 2006, 2007, and 2008 by the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines.
It is also one of the few festivals globally to receive support from the United Nations for promoting the Millennium Development Goals and has been cited by the Asian Development Bank as a best practice in government, private sector, and nongovernment organization cooperation./PN