What is Dinagyang Festival?

Dinagyang Festival has just passed and everyone here in Iloilo City, Philippines is still recovering from the festive mood and trying to get back on their normal lives. But what is really a Dinagyang Festival?

For those who don not know what is Dinagyang Festival it is a religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City, Philippines celebrated every 4th Sunday of January, or right after the Sinulog in Cebu and the Ati-Atihan in Aklan.

The festival is divided into three Major events: Ati-Ati Street Dancing, Kasadyahan Street Dancing and Miss Dinagyang.

The "tribes", also called "tribus", joining the festival contest, are supposed to be Ati (Aeta) tribe members dancing in celebration. There are a number of requirements, including that the performers must paint their skin brown and that only indigenous materials can be used for the costumes. All dances are performed to drum music. Many tribes are organized by the local high schools. Some tribes receive a subsidiary from the organizers and recruit private sponsors, with the best tribes receiving the most. The current Ati population of Iloilo is not involved with any of the tribes nor are they involved in the festival in any other way.

Dinagyang Festival was declared by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) as the Best Tourism Event in the Philippines for four consecutive years. Thus, the new distinction has been given as “Dinagyang Festival in the Hall of Fame.”

Below is a promotional video of a Dinagyang Festival. Watch it and you'll understand why this event is in the Hall of Fame.


For more info about Dinagyang Festival, kindly click the link that follows: http://www.praningshoutout.com/2010/01/watch-dinagyang-festival-live-coverage.html/