ILOILO City – “Sinamba sa Regatta”, a street dance / mardi gras showcase of the annual Paraw Regatta Festival, will now be representing Iloilo in the Aliwan Fiesta, an annual showcase of the biggest festivals in the country.
The announcement was made by the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI) chairman Judgee Peña during a recent press conference.
Peña revealed that the Dinagyang Festival will no longer compete at Aliwan.
“They will now be focusing on international competitions,” he said.
There will be no Aliwan Fiesta this year, however. Organizer Manila Broadcasting Company said it will resume in 2026 because there is no ample time for preparation this year, citing the upcoming May 2025 midterm elections.
Dinagyang has been dominating the Aliwan Fiesta for years. It has been declared the champion eight times, first winning in 2004, followed by four straight championships from 2010 to 2013, then in 2017, 2023 and 2024.
Despite this change, Peña expressed strong confidence in Sinamba sa Regatta’s ability to succeed on the national stage.
“I am 110% sure that ‘Sinamba sa Regatta’ will win at the national level. They will fight, and they can do it,” he declared.
IFFI executive director Joyce Ann Clavecillas confirmed that preparations for the Sinamba contest are already underway, with a focus on highlighting Iloilo’s cultural and maritime heritage.
“At Aliwan Fiesta, a large percentage of the criteria is based on culture and heritage. The sailing tradition here in Iloilo is very rich,” Clavecillas said.
Sinamba sa Regatta is a street dance competition that showcases the maritime culture of Iloilo, celebrating the centuries-old Paraw Regatta tradition.
The Paraw Regatta Festival, running from February 23 to March 2, 2025, is the oldest traditional boat sailing event in Asia.
Aliwan Fiesta, known as the “Festival of Festivals”, gathers top festival contingents from across the Philippines for street dancing, float parades, and beauty pageants. Organized by the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), it aims to promote regional culture and tourism./PN
