ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo Dinagyang Festival is sure to take center stage in international events this year.
This rosy prospect for Dinagyang was announced by Allan Ryan Tan, president of the Iloilo Festival Foundation Inc., during the opening of the Tribes Competition of the world-renowned festival on January 26 at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.
“I am happy to announce that we will bring Dinagyang Festival to Auckland, New Zealand this November 2025,” said Tan after acknowledging the delegation from the “land of the long white cloud.”
Members of the Te-Amoriangi-Taiohi-Ruaputaka-Marae of New Zealand were here in Iloilo City and performed a Maori traditional dance during the ILOmination and Tribes competitions of this year’s Dinagyang Festival.
Tan also said that they have received an invitation from Regional Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez of the Department of Tourism-Western Visayas to join the World Expo 2025 in Osaka Japan.
“Our Dinagyang is set to take the international stage in June 2025 kag excited na gid kita nga magpasundayag and showcase our culture and strength, the resilience of the Dinagyang warrior to the world that celebrates our culture and unity,” said Tan.
This year’s Tribes competition, highlighting the last day of Dinagyang Festival, which is an annual cultural and religious festival in honor of Senor Sto. Nino, was participated in by eight tribes coming from the different schools and villages in metro-Iloilo.
Ms. Dorothy Francia who hails from Jaro district and now, living in Australia, was with friends to witness the performances of the tribes at the Freedom Grandstand.
“I want to show him what Dinagyang is, like world-class performances. Amazing, 10 out 10,” said Francia as she rated the performances of the participating tribes.
Francia noted that the festival is now more organized and law enforcers are more visible so orderliness and cleanliness were maintained which helped ensure the smooth conduct of the events. (AAL/LAF/PIA6-Iloilo)
