ILOILO City – The subsidy for each participating tribe in the 2019 Iloilo Dinagyang Festival would be increased to P1.2 million.
Mayor Jose Espinosa III announced the increase during yesterday’s launching of the 51st edition of the festival. A memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed with the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. (IDFI) and the Parish of San Jose de Placer.
“Gusto ta nga i-maintain gid ang quality sang Dinagyang, the best cultural festival in the country,” said Espinosa
In this year’s Dinagyang, the subsidy for each tribe was P1 million.
The MOA signing yesterday took place at the restored over-a-century-old Ker and Co. trading house on Ortiz Street, City Proper. The historic building was a testament to Iloilo’s ties with Great Britain as early as the 1860s. The British company helped develop Iloilo’s sugarcane industry.
“This year, madamo nga mga innovations ang himuon sang Dinagyang Foundation. We have conducted workshops para ma-improbar pa gid ang aton Dinagyang,” said Espinosa who signed the MOA on behalf of the city government.
Former city councilor Ramon Cua-Locsin signed the MOA as IDFI chairman while Fr. Raymund Edsel Alcayaga represented the San Jose Parish.
Cua-Locsin said IDFI was aiming for 10 participating tribes in the ati-ati competition.
Robert Alor, chairman of the IDFI tribes committee, said eight schools have so far signified to join the festival. These are the lloilo City National High School (NHS), Ramon Avanceña NHS, Jaro NHS, Mandurriao NHS, Fort San Pedro NHS, La Paz NHS, Bo. Obrero NHS, and Jalandoni NHS.
“May ara pa gid nagakadto nga gusto mag-join. Ina ‘ya i-evaluate pa sang foundation kon makapasar sa quality considering nga naga-conduct kita mga seminar workshops,” said Alor.
The prizes would depend on the sponsorships, said Cua-Locsin.
“Kon ako pamangkuton, mas prefer ko nga indi pagpasakaan ang prizes. Idugang na lang ang adjustment sa subsidy. Kay kon sa prize, ang P1million as grand prize isa man lang na ka tribe maka-benefit. Pero kon i-divide ang amount sa mga tribes as additional subsidy, at least tanan may parti,” he explained.
“Connecting Communities thru Culture and Faith” is the theme of the 2019 Iloilo Dinagyang Festival.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved an P18-million city government financial assistance to IDFI as festival events organizer.
Cua-Locsin also announced yesterday that the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival is now a registered trademark under the Intellectual Property Rights Office of the Philippines and that the Miss Iloilo Dinagyang 2019 beauty pageant would be handled by international lifestyle designer JP Arañador./PN
