ILOILO City – Shortcomings in this year’s Dinagyang Festival would be addressed for a better festivity next year, said Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
He stressed the importance of constructive criticism in further improving the city’s festival.
“I welcome criticisms and suggestions,” said Espinosa in reaction to several complaints that reached his office regarding the recent Dinagyang.
One of these complaints was the dearth in toilets and water supply in the few “portalets” (portable toilets) that were erected in some parts of the downtown area.
“We will review kun ano ang kulang,” said Espinosa.
He agreed with the observation that “Importante gid ang portalets, including ang water connections.”
Espinosa also acknowledged the need to improve crowd control.
“For example sa bag-o nga grandstand we need additional movable barriers,” he said.
The two-day highlights of this year’s Dinagyang – the Kasadyahan regional cultural contest on Jan. 26 and the dagyang tribal dance competition on Jan. 27 – were staged (main performance area) at the new and bigger Iloilo City Dinagyang Grandstand on Muelle Loney Street facing the Iloilo River.
Espinosa was glad that Dinagyang Festival 2019 was generally peaceful as assessed by the Iloilo City Police Office.
He also described as “tolerable” the volume of garbage that the festival generated.
This was expected, he said, due to the huge volume of Dinagyang revelers.
“Ginhimo ta tanan nga preparation and cleanup. Wala man ta nagkulang sa reminders,” said Espinosa. “I instructed nga himuson gid. Kit-an ninyo aga pa nanglimpyo...almost kuha tanan-tanan nga basura.”
Dinagyang is Iloilo City’s version of the Ati-atihan celebrations widely observed not only in Panay Island but also in other parts of the country. It may not be as ancient as the one in Kalibo, Aklan but it is known more for its participants’ impressive choreography and striking costumes that reflect the ingenuity, craftsmanship and artistry of the Ilonggos.
Last year, the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. (IDFI) held a workshop for Dinagyang choreographers and tribe managers to further enhance their presentations.
The result: much improved performances that focused on various cultural practices of the Ilonggos such as abi abi (festive welcome), paghigugma (courtship), pagtipon (gathering), bayluhanay (barter), pag-intindihanay (understanding), pagsinadya (celebration), paghirupay (closeness), hinampang (play), pagpahanggud (rites of passage), paghalad (offering), pagtuo (faith), pag–amliganay (nurturing), pag–unungay (unity), and pagtaud (link), according to Annie Divinagracia-Sartorio of IDFI’s Dinagyang Arts Festival Committee.
Dinagyang is the Hiligaynon word for revelry or merrymaking. The festival started in 1967 when a replica of the image of the Santo Niño de Cebu was brought from Cebu to the San Jose de Placer Church here.
The image, accompanied by devotees from Cebu, was enthusiastically received by the Ilonggos who danced on the streets of the city to the tune of rumbling drums./PN
