City mulls more ‘experiential’ Dinagyang sans Kasadyahan

DINAGYANG GRAND WINNER. Tribu Ilonganon of Jalandoni Memorial National High School ends an 11-year drought in the Dinagyang Festival. It is this year’s grand champion. The last time it topped the festival’s dagyang tribe dance competition was in 2007. IAN PAUL CORDERO/PN
DINAGYANG GRAND WINNER. Tribu Ilonganon of Jalandoni Memorial National High School ends an 11-year drought in the Dinagyang Festival. It is this year’s grand champion. The last time it topped the festival’s dagyang tribe dance competition was in 2007. IAN PAUL CORDERO/PN

ILOILO City – For next year’s Dinagyang Festival, the city government wants people to be more involved.

“Dinagyang will now be more experiential, (there will be) more people involvement. Indi pareho sa una nga gabantay ka lang. I-push ta gid nga experiential Dinagyang,” said former Tourism undersecretary Salvador Sarabia Jr.

While the Kasadyahan, a showcase of various festivals in Western Visayas, would no longer be part of Dinagyang 2020, new “twists” would be introduced, revealed Sarabia, executive assistant for tourism of Mayor Jerry Treñas.

In lieu of the Kasadyahan that used to be staged a day before the Dinagyang ati tribes contest, the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) has proposed to hold a “Sadsad sa Dinagyang”, said Sarabia.

The “Sadsad sa Dinagyang” is being envisioned as a street merrymaking involving tourists, guess, festival sponsors and the private sector.

Open to all, the “sadsad” will start from the Iloilo provincial capitol and end at Plaza Libertad.

It may be capped with a Mass or a religious event, said Sarabia.

For the ati tribes contest, several barges that can hold spectators may be placed at the Iloilo River facing the new Freedom Grandstand, the main venue of the performances.

“The ati tribes’ performances can be viewed 360 degrees, indi lang siya sa atubang, libot na siya. It will be more experiential,” said Sarabia.

However, the number of performance areas may be trimmed down from the usual five to just three or four, he said.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO KASADYAHAN?

The proposal to remove Kasadyahan from Dinagyang surfaced in July with the creation of the IFFI.

Department of Tourism (DOT) regional director Helen Catalbas said it should not be a problem.

“Kasadyahan should be distinct from Dinagyang. It must have its own identity,” she stressed.

Catalbas said the Kasadyahan has leveled up through the years, noting the improvements in the competing contingents’ choreographies, costumes, music, props, and concepts.

There’s a proposal to stage the Kasadyahan every September, the National Tourism Month.

Catalbas said DOT-6 is prepared to support Kasadyahan.

The Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. (IDFI) which used to organize the Dinagyang, may handle the Kasadyahan, said Catalbas.

“Why not? Kasadyahan participants have no complaints whatsoever against the IDFI,” said Catalbas.

IDFI got Mayor Treñas’ ire in January this year for not inviting him to the festivities.

It was during Treñas’ term as mayor from 2001 to 2010 that the private sector – the IDFI for that matter – was tapped as official managing partner of the Iloilo City government and the Parish of San Jose de Placer for the Dinagyang.

Catalbas said the Kasadyahan may even be held in another place.

“There is nothing that prevents DOT from holding this. We can hold this in Capiz or in Kalibo or Bacolod City,” she said.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

There is still room for improvement in the Dinagyang, according to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

It can attract more tourists than it already has, said NCCA chairman Felipe de Leon during last month’s workshop “Dinagyang Rhythm and Vibes Conference V” participated by Dinagyang musicians, choreographers and artistic directors.

But how?

Add more features, said de Leon, and “have a focus.”

“We are holding this workshop to make sure that Dinagyang will have a focus. Without a clear focus, people will be confused,” he explained.

The Dinagyang Festival started in 1967. A replica of the Santo Niño de Cebu was brought from Cebu to the San Jose de Placer Church. The image was enthusiastically received by the Ilonggos who danced on the streets of Iloilo City.

Since Dinagyang is both a religious and artistic festival, de Leon suggested that “it must be a devotional festival celebrated in the most artistic way.”

With this focus, de Leon said, stakeholders could then figure out what new features to add to Dinagyang to attract more audience.

But he reminded the workshop participants to balance the festival’s aesthetic elements with its identity.

“How do you make it more Ilonggo,” he said.

Dinagyang is the Hiligaynon word for revelry or merrymaking. The festival 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 its participants’ impressive choreography and striking costumes that reflect the ingenuity, craftsmanship and artistry of the Ilonggos./PN

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