ILOILO City – The City Tourism and Development Office (CTDO) is targeting to bring Dinagyang Festival to basketball enthusiasts worldwide through the National Basketball Association (NBA) halftime show.
CTDO head Junel Ann Divinagracia said it is a dream to bring Dinagyang to the NBA halftime show or any other major sports events in the United States to promote the world-class festival and Iloilo City.
“The best promotion that we can have for Dinagyang and for the city is kon maka-perform ang aton champion tribe sa halftime show sang NBA or any other major sports event sa US,” said Divinagracia.
Thus, when she was asked to accompany the consul of the embassy of the United States of America and chief of the American Citizen Services Kristofor Graf to his courtesy visit to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. during his recent Dinagyang visit to the city, Divinagracia took the opportunity to ask him if there is any chance for Dinagyang to perform at the NBA halftime show.
“Siling ‘ya, ‘That’s a very brilliant idea. I think I know somebody you can talk to,’” Divinagracia said.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry P. Treñas seeks to further promote Dinagyang and Iloilo City.
“This is one of our targets and I hope mabuligan kita,” said Divinagracia.
The CTDO head said Graf was amazed by the performances of the tribes during the recently concluded Dinagyang Festival.
“Gin-congratulate ‘ya ang Iloilo City. He said ‘your festival is so amazing.’ Namian gid siya, believe gid siya,” said Divinagracia./PN
