Foreigners flock to Dinagyang Festival

Iloilo’s famous Dinagyang Festival (Tony Magdaraog / Shutterstock)

ILOILO CITY  — The city, in celebration of Dinagyang 2015 with its theme, “Sum it up to the top”, is filled with local and national visitors, “balikbayans” and foreigners to witness Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival that culminates Monday with a thanksgiving mass.

Many people from different municipalities and provinces arrived early to find a better view of the competition. There were also city locals and students who were very eager to support their tribe favorites.

The Kasadyahan Regional Cultural Competition held last Saturday had Caluya, Antique’s Tribu Tatusan awarded as champion while in the Ati Contest Tribu Panayanon again emerged winner. The awarding was held Sunday.

Meanwhile, there were foreigners who travelled across oceans to witness this annual event especially the Ati-ati tribes street dance competition, which is the highlight of the festival.

Rosangela Mollinero, a 29-year-old Peruvian national, traveled all the way from Lima, Peru to witness this spectacular Ilonggo celebration. “Dinagyang really captures my heart, in fact, I visited the city four times already. This year, they really gave their best. For me, they are all winners,” according to her.

Hamich Dune, a citizen of Nevada, USA with his Ilongga girlfriend Michaela, found the competition exciting and wonderful despite the drizzle. “Well, you see, there is nothing like this in the U.S. and since my girlfriend is a proud Ilongga, I think it will be a great pleasure for me to embrace the Ilonggo culture.

Mi Eun Chul, together with her Korean friends from one of the international schools in Manila, found Iloilo City and the celebration enjoyable. “The show was awesome especially the costumes.”

The said event was participated by nine competing tribes namely: Tribu Paghidaet, Tribu Ilawodnon, Tribu Atub-Atub, Tribu Baybayanon, Tribu Milagrosa, Tribu Panayanon, Tribu Salognon, Tribu Ilonganon, and Tribu Obreros.

There were also guest performances from Koronadal’s Pyesta Kolon d’tal and Maguindanao province’s Talakudong Festival.