Dinagyang champ off to New York in June

Tribu Panayanon of the Iloilo City National High School wins the 2018 Dinagyang Festival Ati tribes competition. It will represent the Philippines to the 120th Independence Day Parade and Cultural Show slated June 3, 2018 at the Madison Avenue in New York City upon the invitation of the Philippine Independence Day Council. (Photo by Ricky D. Alejo/PNA photo)

ILOILO CITY — Dinagyang Festival will again romp the streets of New York City this coming June in time for the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day, an invitation extended to this year’s Ati tribes competition champion  — Tribu Panayanon.

The festival first set foot in the famous Madison Avenue way back in 2011 upon the invitation of the Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. (PIDCI).

Joji Jalandoni, chairperson of the special events for the 120th Independence Day parade and cultural show, arrived in this city last week to personally extend the invitation to Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III and the winning Ati tribe.

The parade will be held at the Madison Avenue in New York City with more than 120,000 expected spectators.

This year’s winner, Tribu Panayanon, is from the Iloilo City National High School.

“God gave this at the right time. We waited for long; he test(ed) our patience, hardwork, effort and I think God gave us this championship because it is 2018 and most probably this is the right time for us to regain our championship,” said Dr. Blesilda V. Floro, principal of the Iloilo City National High School and tribe manager of Panayanon.

The win of Panayanon halted the sought-after grand slam win of Tribu Salognon, which won the championship crown in 2016 and 2017.

The winning group was previously known as “Tribu Silak” and “Lunok”.

The name Panayanon was conceptualized in 2013 to “showcase the diverse ethnic legacy of the people and towns of the entire Panay Island,” said Floro.

Meanwhile, aside from Panayanon, Hubon Mangunguma also bagged the championship for the Kasadyahan regional cultural competition.

The two champions have one common denominator – they are both the products of the creative mind of Rommel Flogen, a sought after choreographer not only in Iloilo but in festivals in other provinces as well.

Hubon Mangunguma of the municipality of San Lorenzo was the champion of the Manggahan Festival of Guimaras and earned the right to represent the province in the Regional Kasadyahan cultural competition.

It portrayed the various activities in the production of rice and mango – two major crops of the town of San Lorenzo.

Tribu Mangunguma tribe manager Roulette T. Almario said they could not explain how they felt as it was their first time to join Dinagyang.

Their performers, according to Almario, can’t wait to “showcase their talent again” in the Aliwan Fiesta.

Panayanon won the PHP250,000 cash prize while Tribu Mangunguma bagged PHP200,000. They also received a Dinagyang Festival trophy and the right to participate in the Aliwan Fiesta of the Manila Broadcasting Company, dubbed as the “Festival of Champions”.

Annie Divinagracia-Sartorio, chair of the judging committee, said that performers had improved when it comes to choreography.

She cited that there had been “less showoff of props and costumes” and little by little they have to go back to what the performance used to be, which was “more of dancing”.

However, they need to improve on perspective where they should consider their audience not as a whole.

During Sunday’s celebration, Ramon Cua Locsin, president of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI), said that the annual celebration “validates very small or big contribution from everyone, especially Ilonggos who strive to sustain every development gained through unity.”

“In our perseverance to give the best that Dinagyang can offer, we have become bolder by being more creative, more prepared to grow and broaden the exposure of Dinagyang on a global perspective,” Locsin said.

This year, three international groups were invited to perform to add color to the celebration. These were the Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Festival, Te Amiorangi of Ruapotaka Marae from Auckland City, New Zealand and a cheer dance from the Gomi University in Korea.

“Dinagyang is now an opportunity to have a genuine celebration through camaraderie, services and charity. It attracts international performers and tourists to immerse in a unique inter-cultural exchange,” Locsin added.

The annual Dinagyang Festival is a celebration in honor of Señor Santo Niño.  It first started as a simple merrymaking when the replica of the image of Señor Santo Niño was brought to Iloilo from Cebu by the Cofradia del Santo Niño de Cebu in 1968.

It has then evolved into a religious and cultural event drawing millions of spectators annually.