Iloilo City loses Aliwan crown; defeat blamed on ‘budget issues’

ILOILO City – This city failed to defend its Aliwan Fiesta championship crown.

Dinagyang Festival, represented by its 2018 champion Tribu Panayanon of Iloilo City National High School, settled for a third place finish in the annual competition among the country’s cultural festivals.

Tribu Panayanon choreographer Romel Flogen blamed “budget issues.”

Aliwan Fiesta 2018 winners were announced late Saturday night at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila. Leyte’s Kasadyaan Festival (represented by Tribu Buraburon) was declared the champion.

Guimaras’ Manggahan Festival (represented by Tribu Mangunguma) placed second. Flogen was also its choreographer.

“For the Dinagyang, I felt sad. Our limited budget limited our creativity,” said Flogen.

The city government allotted P2 million for Dinagyang’s Aliwan participation. It was released late, according to Flogen’s co-choreographer George Susvilla.

NO ‘WOW EFFECT’

A bigger budget would have made a big difference in Tribu Panayanon’s presentation, said Flogen.

“Wala kita sang wow effects bala, wala spectacular parts nga mapa-wow ang tawo,” he said.

Flogen was referring to arresting props that could have given Panayanon what he called “visual magic.”

“This was what we heard from the audience after our performance at the Quirino Grandstand. Kulang. Kun sa cake pa, kulang icing ang Dinagyang,” Flogen told Panay News.

Preparation time was also short because the budget was released late, he lamented.

The dance routine was finalized for only 10 days, Flogen revealed.

In previous Aliwan participations of Dinagyang that he also choreographed, he said he had over a month to prepare.

Of the P2-million budget, Susvilla said, a considerable amount went to the following expenses: food, travel fare and accommodation (estimated at around P1.2 million). What remained (around P800 thousand) was used for the “production”, he said.

“Sir Romel had lots of plans to enhance the production but we had a limited budget. Te gin-make use na lang namon kun ano ara da eh,” said Susvilla.

Tribu Panayanon brought some 300 people to Manila for the Aliwan, according to Susvilla. These included 110 dancers and 60 drummers. The rest were props men and other staff.

Flogen lamented the indecisiveness of the city government in deciding whether to participate in the Aliwan.

“Kay nagaduha-duha pa if ma-intra ang Dinagyang or indi,” he said, and this resulted to the delayed preparation.

Flogen, however, commended Tribu Panayanon dancers for giving their all during the performance.

“In terms of choreography and performance, grabe gid ang mga kabataan. Wala gid ‘ya may makapyerdi sa dance power nila,” he said.

It was previously reported that Tribu Panayanon was asking for an additional P1.4 million but Mayor Jose Espinosa III’s special assistant for special events Ben Jimena asked pointed questions.

“Te ngaa dakuon gid (Why further increase the budget)?” asked Jimena, former city tourism officer.

“We won Aliwan without unnecessarily spending a lot in the past,” said Jimena.

Dinagyang Festival had been the Aliwan Fiesta champion six times – 2017, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2014.

In a previous interview, Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. (IDFI) chairperson Ramon Cua Locsin said the budget for the city’s Aliwan participation must come from the city government.

“Ang kulang ginatabunan namon,” he told Panay News.

IDFI apparently had not released any to add to the P2-million city government budget.

In the 2017 Aliwan, Dinagyang Festival was represented by the festival’s champion that year, Tribu Salognon of Jaro National High School. Iloilo City was declared the Aliwan grand winner.

Flogen denied he prioritized Manggahan Festival over Dinagyang Festival for the 2018 Aliwan.

“I took good care of both. The presentation concepts of the two were different,” he said.

2018 ALIWAN WINNERS

1st (champion) – Tribu Buraburon for Kasadyaan Festival of Leyte

2nd – Tribu Mangunguma for Manggahan Festival of Guimaras

3rd – Tribu Panayanon for Dinagyang Festival

4th – Bugabungan National High School for Meguyaya Festival of Maguindanao

5th – Tribu Tatusan for Binirayan Festival of Antique

Aliwan Fiesta, which began in 2003, aims to showcase the different Filipino cultures and heritage not only to the people in Metro Manila but also to the rest of the world.

The contingents, meanwhile, aim to promote their respective regions both economically and tourism-wise.

Aliwan Fiesta was originally organized as a visual extravaganza for the Christmas season but it has since been held during the summer months of either April or May.

Aliwan is a Tagalog word for “entertainment” or “amusement.”/PN