ILOILO City – Top executives of the country have been invited to grace the in-person celebration of the Dinagyang Festival here next year.
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said among the guests are President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
The city will also invite First Lady Lisa Marcos, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Next year’s staging of Dinagyang will be face-to-face after two consecutive years of online celebrations because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Treñas said Ilonggos will start the first month of 2023 with a bigger and livelier celebration of faith on the streets of this southern city.
“It is high time we go back to the streets and exclaim ‘Viva! Viva! Señor Sto. Niño!’” Treñas posted on his Facebook page.
Iloilo Festival Foundation Inc. (IFFI) executive director Joyce Clavecillas said they are “50 to 70 percent done” preparing for face-to-face Dinagyang 2023 set from Jan. 13 to 22.
All pre-pandemic Dinagyang activities will be revived such as the ati-ati tribes competition, float parade, food festival, liturgical activities, and religious sadsad, among others.
One of the goals of the Dinagyang Festival 2023 is to highlight the gratefulness of the Ilonggos to Señor Sto. Niño, according to Clavecillas.
She also said public health safety protocols set by the government by the time the festival is staged will be observed.
Dinagyang Festival had its early beginnings in 1968. A replica of the image of Señor Sto. Niño was brought from Cebu City to the San Jose Parish Church by Father Suplico Ebderes, OSA, with a delegation of Cofradia del Sto. Niño, Cebu members./PN
