BY MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO City – This southern city is all set for the opening salvo of the Dinagyang Festival 2024 on Jan. 12.
Spectators can get a glimpse of the performances of the eight school-based competing tribes at the four judging areas – Freedom Grandstand, lloilo Provincial Capitol, Mabini-Delgado, and Quezon-Ledesma.
These tribes are the following:
* Tribu Taga-Baryo of Bo. Obrero National High School
* Tribu Mandu-riyaw of Mandurriao National High School
* Tribu Paghidaet of La Paz National High School
* Tribu Pan-ay of Fort San Pedro National High School
* Tribu Salognon of Jaro National High School
* Tribu Sigabong of Ramon Avanceña National High School
* Tribu Ilonganon of Jalandoni Memorial National High School
* Tribu Silak of Iloilo City National High School
The opening salvo will kick off with a mass at 1:30 p.m. at San Jose de Placer Parish and will be followed by a parade towards the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand for the opening program.
Eric Divinagracia, artistic and creative director of the Dinagyang Tribes Competition 2024 of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI), also said the seven participating tribes for the Dinagyang ILOmination Streetdance Competition will lead and perform the unity dance.
The ILOmination tribes are:
* Tribu Kahirup (Arevalo)
* Tribu Ilonggohanon (Proper)
* Tribu Buntag Tala (Jaro)
* Tribu Manduryaw (Mandurriao)
* Tribu Iafa (Molo)
* Tribu Sagasa (La Paz)
* Tribu Sidlangan (Lapuz)
Also, 15 Ilongga beauties who are official candidates of the Miss Iloilo 2024 will also be introduced during the opening salvo.
The Iloilo City Traffic Management Unit, meanwhile, is asking for the public’s understanding as traffic congestion is expected during the opening salvo as there will be rerouting, road closures and provision of other emergency lanes.
The city’s traffic unit is set to issue traffic advisories to give a heads up to motorists and commuters.
Set to highlight on Jan. 28, the socio-cultural and religious celebration will have as its theme, “Pagdayaw kay Señor Sto. Niño, Padayaw sang mga Ilonggo!”/PN
