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.

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The main structure of SM Citys Iloilo’s new development called “Southpoint” has been completed for more than a month now. Occupants of the new building are expected to start developing their spaces during the second half of the year. As previously reported, Cebu-based “Mooon Cafe” will be opening its second Iloilo branch in Southpoint (the first was recently opened in Robinsons Place). Also, Starbucks rumors about opening a store in Iloilo (and its location) finally comes to rest. They will be occupying the corner space of Southpoint in SM City. Once open it will be the third Starbucks branch in the region after opening stores in Boracay Island and Bacolod City.

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To get to Concepcion from Iloilo City, commuters can take a bus in Tagbak (Northern Iloilo) Terminal in Jaro, Iloilo City. HPQ buses are highly recommended, the fare is P110. Travel time takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. The first trip leaves Iloilo at 7am and last trip from Concepcion is around 4pm.

To get to Concepcion from Roxas City, take a bus going to Ajuy and from the terminal in Ajuy, take another bus to Concepcion.

How to get to the islands in Concepcion

There are daily passenger trips going to the major islands in Concepcion. They mostly leave in the morning and there’s only one trip per day. For large groups, visitors can go to the fish port or the wet market and search for boatmen willing to rent out their fishing boats. Sandbar Island Beach Resort in Bulubadiangan Island have their own pumpboat service for guests, the rate is P800 for the round trip transfers. For reference, the round trip transfers to Pan de Azucar Island is around P1,000 and P1,200 for Agho and Malangabang Island (P2,500 for a big boat).

Boat Tours of Concepcion Islands

Guests of Sandbar Island Beach Resort can also rent the resort’s pumpboat for a tour of nearby islands for P800. Several resorts in the mainland and fishermen at the fish port also rent our their boats for P1,000 – P1,500 for a half-day tour.

Pan de Azucar is the biggest and most popular among Concepcion’s 16 islands because of the enchantingly tall and steep mountain, called Mt. Pan de Azucar or Mt. Manaphag, standing like a towering sentinel in the center of the island.  Tampisaw is also the name of the festival of Concepcion held in the island on the fourth week of April to celebrate Earth Day.Read the rest of Pan de Azucar Island (9 comments)

Agho Island is a small parcel of paradise located 7 nautical miles northeast of Concepcion town proper or “Poblacion”. The privately owned eight-hectare island has an extensive white sand beach area and a sprawling coral garden. Upon reaching the island you will see the island’s sandbar which shifts from left to right depending on the season or the direction where the wind blows.Read the rest of Agho Island – A patch of paradise in Concepcion (37 comments)