Be prepared this weekend to witness the whole City of Iloilo revel during the Dinagyang Festival 2010 and experience an explosion of sound, color, and dance. The Dinagyang Festival is a religious and cultural celebration in Iloilo City held on the fourth Sunday of January, the week after the Sinulog In Cebu and the Ati-Atihan in Aklan. It is held both to honor the Santo Nino and to celebrate the arrival on Panay of Malay settlers and the subsequent selling of the island to them by the Atis.
Highlights of the Festival
The religious highlight is the fluvial procession along Iloilo River. Meanwhile, the cultural highlights are the Kasadyahan and the Dinagyang Ati parades and competitions. Over the years, the Dinagyang Festival has made a lot of innovations and this Dinagyang 2010, an international fireworks show, dubbed as “Luces in the Sky” will be lighting up the city’s night sky during the height of the festivities.
- Tambor Trumpa Martsa Musika and Salvo of a Thousand Drums. Kick starting the 3-day highlights of the Dinagyang 2010 on January 22 (7-8am, Friday) is the, Salvo of a thousand drums, a spectacular opening of the Dinagyang Festival bringing together the drummers of 16 the tribes joining the Dinagyang Ati Competition and 16 participants of the Tambor Trumpa Martsa Musika Contest into one synchronized volley of drums. Thereafter, the 16 drum and bugle/lyre and marching bands will be performing in two judging areas for the Tambor Trumpa Martsa Musika Contest.
- Fluvial Procession and Foot Parade.The Dinagyang Fluvial Procession will start at 3pm on January 22 (Friday) assembling at Fort San Pedro and the going through the course of the procession to Muelle Loney/Iloilo Customs House (Aduana). Enjoining the fluvial procession will be at least 30 decorated pump boats carrying the Sto. Nino. After arriving in Muelle Loney which, a foot procession will start passing all the way through to the Iloilo Provincial Capitol and going back to the San Jose Parish church at Plaza Libertad where a mass will be celebrated.
- Luces in the Sky Fireworks Competition. Held on January 22 and 23, 2010 (7pm, Friday and Saturday) night, it is one of the biggest crowd drawer to the Dinagyang Festival. Hundreds of thousands spectators troop to SM City Iloilo during the 2 night event, to witness fireworks display shows from different participating groups from all over the country.
- Kasadyahan Parade and Competition. Also known as the festival of festivals of Iloilo Province, the Kasadyahan Parade and Competition held on January 23, 2009 (8am, Saturday) features the history and culture of the various towns in the province of Iloilo through an extravaganza of choreographed cultural dance drama presentations. This Dinagyang 2010, the Kasadyahan will be .
- Baile de Latino de Iloilo. A lively and exciting street parade of costumed dancers accompanied by colorful floats and musical bands traversing the streets of Downtown Iloilo City. Assembly will be at Rizal Street (infront of University of Iloilo) at 2pm on January 23, 2010 (Saturday). After the parade, a Grand Mardi Gras Ball will be held at the freedom grandstand from 4:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M featuring all-night ballroom dancing with live bands playing samba, reggae, latin and salsa. Only costumed dancers will be allowed to join the the grand ball.
- Dinagyang Ati Parade and Competition. The main highlight of the Dinagyang 2010 to be held on January 24, 2010 (8am, Sunday). During the Dinagyang Ati Parade and Competition, competing tribes composed of dark-brown colored warriors perform highly choreographed dances to the fast paced beat of drums and paying homage to the child Jesus by shouting “Viva, Viva! Senyor Santo Nino!”
- Awarding Ceremony. Announcement of winners of various competitions and contests during the Dinagyang Festival and afterparty capped with a grand fireworks display on January 24, 2010 (7pm, Sunday).
Dinagyang Festival Theme Song – Hala Bira Iloilo!
Mr. Marcos, I borrowed your dinagyang image here to post in our local social forum website.
I want to show them how rich & colorful or history was.:)
we join you in celebration. hala bira!
Hi! I’m going to Ilo-ilo this Saturday — but just for a connecting flight to Cebu. I have 5 hours to sprare. What do you suggest I do in Ilo-ilo for the lull time that I have? :) Insider tip from Ilo2 is much appreciated. :)
5 hours. that’s quite a short time … the airport is at least 30 minutes from the city proper. I guess you could only go as far as Santa Barbara town itself. You can visit the Iloilo Golf Course and Country Club, the oldest in the country or go to Santa Barbara Poblacion to see their historic church and sprawling plaza.
5 hours is indeed short. At any rate, you could spend perhaps about 3-4 hours in the city. Hire a cab and tell it to go to the City Proper, specifically, The Atrium Mall. When you arrive at the Atrium mall, Get out of the cab and just walk along Iznart st.
By saturday, the roads are closed to vehicles and open to the general public. Just walk and explore, feel the vibe of the city, take in the sights and smell. That at least, is what you can do in such a short span of time.
For lunch, you can head off the Grand Dame hotel, its very near The Atrium Mall and affordable to most people.
Taxis going back to the airport can be found at the SM City Mall, there’s lots of them there and the road leading to this mall is still open to traffic, you could walk all the way from Atrium to SM city, its just near.
may you have a wonderful & enjoyable 2010 dinagyang, hala, bira, puwera pasma, viva sto nino…
good morning, I am an amateur photographer. I heard Dinagyang Festival is a nice venue to practice taking pictures. But they say you need an access pass to the venue where they usually practice and prepare for the main event on the street. It is best to take pictures from there rather than on the streets. Where can I acquire access pass?
GREAT! website….. i miss u iloilo…I’m very to be ilonggo….luv ya iloilo
BTW, I like the “new look” of your website, Marcos! Nami iya lay-out with ease navigating around. More power to you and to Explore Iloilo!
thanks gd Lee. I’m still working on it … beta version pa lang. The years have cluttered up Explore Iloilo, time to freshen it up :D
They should have used your first pic (above) for the poster because it captures the juvial spirit of the celebration. No kidding, that shot is worth a poster had the organizer just scouted around! Well, I guess, see around Marcos during the frenzy of the celeb and, maybe, we can continue with the food marathon where we left off last time.
Ahehe, you guys are really put off by the poster huh? ^_^ I still think the poster isn’t too bad. Yes Lee, see you too around in January. It’s going to be yet another busy month.