Dinagyang 2008 Ati Competition – To highlight Dinagyag Festival on January 27

The Dinagyang Ati Competition is the main highlight of the Dinagyang Festival and will be held on January 27, 2008 or every fourth Sunday of January. During the Dinagyang Ati competition, competing tribes composed of dark-brown colored warriors perform a highly choreographed dance to a fast paced beat of drums and paying homage to the child Jesus by shouting “Viva, Viva! Senyor Santo Nino!.”

This year 20 tribes will be joining the competition namely: Tribu Ivatan, Baryohan, San Pedro, Binhi, Hamili, Paghidaet, Angola, Kalubihan, Molave, Ilonganon, Pag-asa, Silak, Pana-ad, Atub-Atub, Himala, Familia Sagrada, Aninipay, Pari-anon, Ang Taga Jaro and Bantu.

The most distinct tribe joining is Tribu Ivatan, which hails from far away Batanes Province. Tribu Ivatan is the only participating tribe that comes from outside the city and region. They will be the first tribe to perform at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand on January 27, 2008. They joined the competition because they believe that it is a great way to promote the tourism industry of Batanes.

For two years in a row, the Dinagyang Festival had been cited by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) as Best Tourism Event in the country. It has also received international recognitions such as given by the United Nations Development Programme in a CityNet conference in Katmandu, Nepal as Best Practice in the Promotion of the Localization of the Millennium Development Goals and by the Asian Development Bank as Best Practice in Public and Private Cooperation.

Last year, Dinagyang also emerged first runner-up in the Aliwan Fiesta 2007 held in Manila and awarded Best in Music in the Western Visayas Tourism Assembly held in Bacolod City. (PIA)

The Parade Route will start at Freedom Grandstand where there will be a judging area. Once the competing tribe is finished with their performance, the parade will move along J.M. Basa Street and through Iznart Street passing by Plazoletagay Rhotunda and proceeding to the Provincial Capitol where the second judging area will be staged. Once finished, the parade will move on to General Luna St. and turn left to Quezon St., where the participating tribes will be having their street dance performance until the corner of Quezon-Ledesma Sts., where the third judging area will be held. After their performance, the parade will turn left to Ledesma St. and Right to Iznart St., passing by Plazoletagay Rhotunda. During the stretch of the road, the competing tribes will have another street dance performance until the Maria Clara Monument, where the final judging area will be at.

The winners of last year’s Dinagyang Ati Competition were:

Over-all Champion: Tribu Ilongganon
1st Runner-up: Tribu Paghidaet
2nd Runner-up: Tribu Taga-Jaro