ILOILO City – For the first time in the history of the Dinagyang Festival, all tribes are joining together as one for the digital staging of next year’s edition of the festivity.
Eric Divinagracia, chairman of the Dinagyang Digital Production Committee, said Digital Dinagyang 2021’s theme, “One Dinagyang, One Iloilo, Halad kay Senor Sto. Niño” reflects the Ilonggos’ unity amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Ang mga tribu nga sang una naga-compete with each other mangin isa na,” said Divinagracia yesterday.
Next year’s digital staging of Dinagyang Festival will feature seven tribes.
Representing the seven districts of this southern city, their performances will be pre-filmed, according to Atty. Jobert Peñaflorida, president of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI).
The total number of performers will only be limited to 30 divided into two groups. The first group would represent three tribes and the second group four tribes. These warriors are members of various tribes who auditioned and were chosen.
“Ang makita sa aton program, the best of Ilonggo talents,” said Divinagracia,
Their performance would be streamed on social media accessible to spectators the world over.
Divinagracia said all best choreographers, designers, artistic and musical directors belonging to the Ilonggo Artists Festival Association united to bring out their best to produce a creative Digital Dinagyang 2021.
Next year’s Dinagyang will also showcase the best of Iloilo.
“Makita naton sila (tribes) sa lain lain nga parti sang syudad sang Iloilo sa pito ka districts, makita man naton ang mga beautiful landmarks sa mga distrito as well as ang ila nagaka-lain-lain nga istorya,”said Divinagracia.
Dinagyang Festival started in 1967. A replica of the Santo Niño de Cebu was brought from Cebu to the San Jose de Placer Church here. The image was enthusiastically received by the Ilonggos who danced on the streets of Iloilo City.
Digital Dinagyang 2021 will also feature the indigenous people of Iloilo (the Ati and Panay Bukidnon), performances of Ilonggo artists, and even tributes to frontliners battling the coronavirus disease.
“Sa subong nga presentasyon naton hatagan naton sila sang tingog paagi sa video feature,” said Divinagracia.
Dinagyang is the Hiligaynon word for revelry or merrymaking.
Peñaflorida said the pandemic is challenging the IFFI – which is handling the festival only for the second time next year – to think out of the box. It is taking to a higher level the “Dinagyang 360 Degrees” performance concept it introduced in the 2020 edition of the festival. Contesting tribes were required to choreograph their presentations in such a way that the dancers faced the spectators from all angles during their performances.
Through new technologies and social media, IFFI will be showcasing Dinagyang in new and exciting perspectives, said Peñaflorida./PN
