ILOILO City – The Parish of San Jose de Placer would make sure Dinagyang Festival’s religious aspect won’t be overshadowed by the festivity’s pageantry, said Father Edcel Alcayaga.
Dinagyang Festival would be staging its 51st edition in January 2019.
The Parish of San Jose de Placer is of the three organizers of the yearly event. The two others are the city government and the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. The three signed a memorandum of agreement on Oct. 8.
“We focus more on how to deepen the devotion to Señor Santo Niño,” said Alcayaga.
The festival started in 1967 when a replica of the image of the Santo Niño (Child Jesus) was brought from Cebu to the San Jose Church in Plaza Libertad.
The image, accompanied by devotees from Cebu, was enthusiastically received by the Ilonggos who danced on the streets of the city to the tune of rumbling drums.
Alcayaga said the parish formed a commission on media affairs to further promote Dinagyang’s religious aspect.
“Among others, we will come up with videos so that those who visit the parish would have a glimpse of really what is really happening during the festival,” he said.
Dinagyang 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 the participants’ impressive choreography and striking costumes that reflect the ingenuity, craftsmanship and artistry of the Ilonggos.
“Connecting Communities thru Culture and Faith” is the theme of the 2019 Dinagyang Festival.
Dinagyang is the Hiligaynon word for revelry or merrymaking./PN
