Clear up your schedules on the second week of February and head on over to Iloilo City for a fun experience at the Paraw Regatta Festival 2011. Now on its 39th year, the Iloilo Paraw Regatta is the oldest traditional craft event in Asia, and the largest sailing event in the Philippines.

Samba de Regatta Dance Competition

Over the years, Iloilo Paraw Regatta has grown from a half-day sailboat race into a week long multi-event festival that it is now. Side events include the Iloilo Paraw Slalom, Miss Iloilo Paraw Regatta, Pinta de Layag Competition, Pinta Tawo Competition, Miniature Paraw Race, Rowing and Paddling Competition, Governor’s Cup Fishing Competition, Samba de Regatta, Beach Football Tournament, and the Beach Volleyball Tournament, Luces by the Sea (Fireworks Display).

Luces by the Sea Fireworks Display

Here’s the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival 2011 Schedule of Activities:

February 13, 2011 (Sunday)

February 15, 2011 (Tuesday)

February 16, 2011 (Wednesday)

February 17, 2011 (Thursday)

February 18, 2011 (Friday)

February 19, 2011 (Saturday)

February 20, 2011 (Sunday)

Traditional Paraw Sailboat at the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival

The main highlight of the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival is the thirty-kilometer distance sailing race on a course in the Iloilo Strait, running up the coast of Panay and then down the coast of Guimaras, before returning to the finish at Villa Beach.

Paraw Race across the Iloilo Strait

Over the years, Iloilo Paraw Regatta has grown from a half-day sailboat race into a week long multi-event festival that it is now. Side events include the Iloilo Paraw Slalom, Miss Iloilo Paraw Regatta, Pinta de Layag Competition, Pinta Tawo Competition, Miniature Paraw Race, Rowing and Paddling Competition, Governor’s Cup Fishing Competition, Samba de Regatta, Beach Football Tournament, and the Beach Volleyball Tournament, Luces by the Sea (Fireworks Display).

Performers during the Samba de Regatta Dance Competition

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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.

The Dinagyang Festival 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.

Here’s the Iloilo Dinagyang 2011 Schedule of Activities:

January 4, 2011 (Tuesday)

• 2:00PM – Model Ati Dinagyang Warrior 2011 Presentation

January 7, 2011 (Friday)

• 2:00PM – Model Ati Dinagyang Warrior 2011 Talent Competition

January 9, 2011 (Sunday)

• 1:00PM – Model Ati Dinagyang Warrior 2011 Finals

January 14, 2011 (Friday)

• 2:30PM – Mass for Opening Salvo of Tribe Dancers (San Jose Parish Church)
• 3:00 PM – OPENING SALVO (Judging Area)

January 14-16, 2011

• Iloilo Dinagyang Golf Competition 2011 (Sta. Barbara Golf Club)

January 15, 2011 (Saturday)

• 7:00:00AM – SQUEAK (Parade Route)

January 16-23, 2011

• Dinagyang Photo Exhibit

January 16, 2011, Sunday

• 10:00AM – 3:00PM (DRESSING UP DAGOY)

January 19-23, 2011

• 2:00 P.M.-12 MN Iloilo Hotel Resort & Restaurant Association (IHRRA) Food Festival (Delgado St., Iloilo City)

January 21, 2011 (Friday)

• 8:00AM – TAMBOR TRUMPA MARTSA MUSIKA (Freedom Grandstand)
• 7:00 PM – LUCES IN THE SKY Part I

January 22, 2011 (Saturday)

• 7:00:00AM – Mass for Kasadyahan (San Jose Parish Church)
• 8:00PM – 2011 KASADYAHAN Competition (Freedom Grandstand and other stages)
• 2:00PM – SPONSORS MARDI GRAS (Judging Area #4 to Freedom Grandstand)
• 7:00PM – LUCES IN THE SKY Part II
• 7:00PM – Religious Sad-sad to Sr. Sto. Niño (San Jose Parish Church)

January 23, 2011 (Sunday)

• 6:30AM -  Concelebrated high mass for devotees, Tribes, Gov’t. Officials, LOMAS in attendance (San Jose Parish Church)
• 8:00AM – 2011 Dinagyang Ati CONTEST (Freedom Grandstand and other stages)
• 7:00PM – Awarding Ceremonies (Freedom Grandstand)

January 24, 2011, Monday

• 5:30PM – Thanksgiving Mass with all members of 2010 Iloilo Dinagyang Festival Working Committees (San Jose Parish Church)

Be prepared to witness the City of Iloilo revel during the Dinagyang Festival 2011 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. The highlights of the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival 2011 will be on January 21 to 23, 2011.

Read the rest of Dinagyang 2011 Guide (4 comments)

The Dinagyang season in Iloilo is fast approaching and the festive fever is starting to brew in the city. Many visitors and balikbayans have already marked their calendars and booked their flights for the Dinagyang Festival highlights on January 21-23, 2011. If you’re interested to buy tickets for seats at the judging areas during the tribe competitions here are some helpful details:

Read the rest of Where to Buy Tickets for Dinagyang 2011 Tribe Competition? (Be the First to Comment)

MassKara is coined from two words: Mass, which means “many, or multitude,” and Kara, a Spanish word for “face,” thus MassKara is a mass or multitude of smiling faces.

Bacolod Masskara Festival 2010 Schedule

• October 1, 2010 - Opening of the Festival Site (Public Plaza,SM MassKara Village
• October 9, 2010 - MassKara Queen (University of St. La Salle Coliseum)
• October 15, 2010 -  Electric MassKara (Tourism Strip, Lacson St.)
• October 16, 2010 - MassKara Street Dance Competition – School Category (Araneta St. to Public Plaza
  • Electric MassKara (Tourism Strip, Lacson St.)
• October 17, 2010 - MassKara Street Dance Competition – Barangay Category (Araneta St. to Public Plaza)
• October 18, 2010 -  Countdown to the Charter Day Giant Street Party Celebration (New Government Center)
• October 19, 2010 - 73rd Charter Day Anniversary

Daily fastcrafts or fast ferries ply the Iloilo City (Muelle Loney River Wharf) to Bacolod City (BREDCO Port). Travel time is 45 minutes to one hour. There are also roll-on roll-off (RORO) vessels or slow ferries plying the Dumangas Port to Bacolod City (BREDCO Port) daily. The van terminal going to Dumangas is located at Baldoza Terminal in La Paz, Iloilo City. Travel time from Iloilo City to Dumangas is 20 minutes and from Dumangas Port to Bacolod via RORO, it is around two and a half hours.

Some of you might recall that Iloilo was already a city even during the Spanish colonial Period. Back in the 19th century, the present day City Proper or Downtown district solely comprised the Municipality of Iloilo (also call “Punta” back in the day). The Districts of Jaro, La Paz, Arevalo, Molo, and Mandurriao were all separate towns alongside Iloilo. Governor General Don Valeriano Wayler created the Ayuntamiento or City Council of Iloilo on January 31, 1890, the date adopted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod as “Araw ng Lungsod ng Iloilo” or the Iloilo City Foundation Day.

Former Jaro City Hall, presently occupied by the PNP Regional Office

A week after, the Becerra Law of 1889 was approved and established Iloilo’s cityhood together with Jaro, Cebu, Batangas, Albay, Nueva Caceres, and Vigan. By virtue of the Royal Decree of 1896, Iloilo City was given the coat of arms with the inscription: “La Muy Leal Y Noble Ciudad de Iloilo” in recognition of the people’s loyalty to the Spanish crown.

Former Iloilo Municipal Hall, donated to and now occupied by University of the Philippines in the Visayas (Iloilo City Campus)

Iloilo (including Jaro) was, however, reverted back to being a municipality sometime in 1901 when the American’s took over the Philippines. In July 16, 1937, Iloilo (Punta) was merged with the towns of Jaro, La Paz, Arevalo, Molo, and Mandurriao to form present day Iloilo City on July 16, 1937 by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 158. The parade and celebration was postponed 40 days later pending the formal inauguration of the City Government of Iloilo on August 25, 1937.

73rd Iloilo City Charter Day – Schedule of Activities

• July 16, 2010 – Thanksgiving Mass (Fountain Area, Robinson)
• August 11 – 25, 2010 – Iloilo City Charter Day Exhibit (SM City Iloilo)
• August 20, 2010 – Iloilo City Hymn Writing Contest
• August 21, 2010 – Goodwill Basketball Games (University of San Agustin Gym)
• August 21, 2010 – Iloilo River Clean-up (Whole stretch of Iloilo River, Station 2 to 3; 6:00AM)
• August 23, 2010 – Dagoy Dolls Auction Sale (SM City Iloilo)
• August 23, 2010 – Bloodletting (Robinsons Fountain Area)
• August 23, 2010 – Mass Wedding (Robinsons Foodcourt; 2:00PM)
• August 24, 2010 – Mangrove Planting (Treñas Boulevard; 6:00AM)
• August 24, 2010 – Sport Fishing/ Swimming
• August 24, 2010 – Boat Rowing and Kayak Exhibition
• August 24, 2010 – Search for Mr & Ms. Iloilo City (Freedom Grandstand; 6:00PM)
• August 25, 2010 – Mass Assembly (La Paz Church, La Paz Plaza; 7:00AM)
• August 25, 2010 – Civic Military Parade (La Paz Plaza to Freedom Grandstand)
• August 25, 2010 – Oratorical Contest (SM City Activity Center)
• August 25, 2010 – Medical Mission (Robinsons Place Iloilo; 7:30AM)
• August 25, 2010 – Dance to the Max Iloilo! (Robinsons Place Iloilo)
• August 25, 2010 – Dungog sang Dakbanwa sang Iloilo (Nelly’s Garden or Punta Villa or Plaza Libertad)
• August 25, 2010 – Job Fair
• August 25, 2010 – Iloilo City Tours
• August 27 to 28, 2010 – Food Festivals of Ilonggo Dishes (Delgado St.)
• August 28, 2010 – Iloilo Got Talent
• August 28, 2010 – SM City Night Run (SM City Iloilo Carpark)
• August 28, 2010 – SM Food Festival (SM City Iloilo)

Read the rest of Photos and Videos of Iloilo Festivals during the Aliwan Fiesta 2010 (4 comments)

Read the rest of Aliwan 2010 winners – Dinagyang Festival grabs 1st place (21 comments)

Read the rest of Guimaras Manggahan Festival 2010 – All you can eat Mangoes! (One comment)