A COMPLETE SUCCESS: Face-to-face Dinagyang exceeded expectations

 ILOILO City – With thousands of domestic and foreign visitors packing various festival activities, Dinagyang’s return to the city’s streets exceeded expectations, according to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.

A “complete success” was how he described the festival’s return to a face-to-face celebration after two years of restrictions due to the coronavirus disease pandemic.

“Everyone wanted a strong comeback…It was a complete success and this showed that Dinagyang and our Sto. Niño are beyond politics,” added Treñas.


Dinagyang Festival is known far and wide for its participants’ impressive choreography and striking costumes that reflect Ilonggo ingenuity, craftsmanship and artistry.


Darren Espanto wowed the audience with his song and dance performances


Treñas congratulated the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), organizer of Dinagyang 2023, the participating tribes and corporate sponsors, among others.


Hala Bira! Lifestyle columnist Tessa Prieto, TV Personality Tim Yap and broadcaster Karen Davila at the Dinagyang Exhibit with SM Supermalls president Steven Tan

“I acknowledge all our sponsors from the private sector for their significant contributions in the success of Dinagyang. Of course, sa inyo tanan, mga pinalangga ko nga Ilonggo. Ang tanan nga ini bangud sa inyo kag para man sa inyo. Your strong support in all our activities played a meaningful role in the overall success of the festival,” said Treñas.

The festival’s top sponsor was SM City Iloilo; it also served as venue for many Dinagyang activities, including the first-ever Dinagyang Ilomination on Jan.21, Batchoy Festival, festival costumes exhibit, and concert of various performing artists including Asia’s Pop Heartthrob Darren Espanto, among others.


Conversation over Batchoy with Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, lifestyle columnist and philanthropist Tessa Prieto, TV personality Tim Yap, veteran broadcaster Karen Davila, Manila Bulletin’s Arnel Patawaran and renowned Iloilo Chef, Rafael "Tibong" Jardeleza Jr.

The festivities were graced by no less than First Lady of the Philippines Atty. Liza Araneta Marcos and some prominent government officials including House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Senators Risa Hontiveros, Jinggoy Estrada, Mark Villar, Francis Tolentino, Bong Revilla, former senator Franklin Drilon, among others. YouTube sensation Small Laude, broadcast journalist Karen Davila, lifestyle columnist and philanthropist Tessa Prieto Valdez, television presenter and entrepreneur Tim Yap were also there to join the festivities. They were warmly welcomed by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and SM Supermalls president Steven Tan.


(From left to right) House Speaker Martin Romualdez, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas during the Dinagyang Dance Competition at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand

The special guests were seen enjoying the Ilomination night at SM City Iloilo with Mayor Jerry Treñas,  SM’s SVP for Operations Bien Mateo, Talent Manager Jojie Dingcong, Youtube celebrity Small Laude,veteran broadcaster Karen Davila, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, philanthropist and influencer Tessa Prieto, eventologist Tim Yap, Manila Bulletin’s Arnel Patawaran and Chef Tibong Jardeleza,Jr.


Youtube star Small Laude with Talent Manager Jojie Dingcong enjoying a bowl of Batchoy at SM City Iloilo


Several dignitaries form foreign embassies attended the festivities as well: Romanian Ambassador to the Philippines HE Raduta Dana Matache with Mr. Constantin Matache ;  Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines HE Agus Widjojo and his wife, Mme. Ranny Agus Widjojo; Royal Thai Ambassador to the Philippines HE Tull Traisorat;  Royal Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines HE Christian Halaas Lyster;  Hungary Ambassador to the Philippines HE Titanilla Toth; Embassy of Polland Ambassador to the Philippines HE Jaroslaw Szczepankiewicz ; Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Ms. P.G.P. Kaushalya; Consul General of Japan in Cebu  Hideki Yamaji; and Embassy of the United States in the Philippines Chief Consuls Kristofer Graf and Leo Balantac;

Dinagyang is the Hiligaynon word for revelry or "merrymaking." The festival 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.

Two of the many foreign dignitaries who graced the festival were full of praises.

(Via Panay News)

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BINAGBAG: The biggest music and arts festival in Subic!

Image
On April 27, 2019, inside Zoobic Safari in Subic, Zambales comes  Binagbag , the biggest music and arts festival in Subic with Franco and more local and hottest bands right now. Zoomanity Group, The organizer is expecting more than 2000 attendees to join the festivities that will start at 5AM, guests can also enjoy the whole 50 hectares theme park facility which is dubbed as the only  Tiger Safari in the Philippines  with more than 50 tigers and more than 200 species. The event is for the benefit of the  Aetas in Subic . For their livelihood and to help the indigent Aetas children. Zoomanity Group is the leading theme park management in the Philippines, comprising of Zoobic Safari in Subic, Zoocobia in Clark Pampanga, Paradizoo in Mendez Cavite, Zoocolate Thrills in Bohol and Zoori inside Residence Inn Tagaytay. For sponsorships and more details; contact the Tag Media Group-09778978877/ 022193503
Read more

I Love You LC! Love, Laugh and Be Healthier!

Image
Data shows that nearly one-third of the world’s population is obese or overweight.  Do you want to be part of this statistics? And it’s no secret, Obesity is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, diabetes, osteoarthritis and some cancers. But OBESITY is preventable! Armed with this belief, the Aguila couple, Dave and Alma thought of a more effective way to present an effective solution to the problem.    “I Love You, LC!” is a story about an obese Filipina (Patty Sandoval) who is in love with a hot guy (Lloyd Corpuz). Accidentally, an incident revealed that Lloyd is not interested with Patty because she is too fat.  Hurt, Patty embarked on a journey of losing weight through an unconventional weight loss method, that does not require any supplement, surgery nor exercise and without ever feeling hungry, called the low carb and intermittent fasting. This unconventional method helped her transition from “yucky” to “yummy” i...
Read more

ACCULAB MNL, an affordable swab testing center

Image
Acculab MNL , opens last Oct. 22,  to serve the public's Covid 19 swabbing needs. A privately-owned and DOH accredited swabbing facility for personal and occupational testing and certification offers an Accessible, Consistent and Efficient swabbing services . Acculab MNL is compose of a team of industry leading experts determined to operate at the highest standards.  By providing smarter, faster, more efficient services they can, and will provide the lowest costs, at the highest levels of quality, at the times we need it most They are offering a PCR swab test which detects the active presence of the virus, i.e. shows that you currently have COVID-19. These are the tests currently used by the IATF-NTF and approved by the Department of Health (DOH) and are fully compliant with government guidelines. AccuLab MNL performs COVID 19 antigen testing and PCR swab test to diagnose patients who have mild to severe symptoms of this deadly infection. The test is conducted at an accr...
Read more