
Dinagyang is celebrated to commemorate Christianization of the natives and to honor the patron saint Sto. Niño or Holy Child Jesus. It is a very colorful parade coupled with a dramatization in honor of the patron Saint Sto. Niño as the object of dramatized offerings and prayers amidst the cracking of drums and shouts of “Viva Señor Santo Niño.” It has its beginnings in 1969, and was casually called “Iloilo Ati-Atihan” to differentiate it Aklan’s Ati-atihan. It was only in 1977 when the term “Dinagyang” was used, coined by an old-time Ilonggo writer and radio broadcaster, the late Pacifico Sumagpao Sudario.
Dinagyang is an exclusive Iloilo (in Panay Island in the Visayas region) festival akin to the Sinulog of Cebu. I remember that the main festival is celebrated every 4th Sunday of January. Prior to the main festivity is the Kasadyahan which takes place on Saturday. It is at this time of the year when the streets of Iloilo is filled with young and old alike to enjoy nightly “open-air” dining and beer drinking. There are particular streets in downtown Iloilo where food stalls and some restaurants are set up temporarily for the revelry. I personally love the smell of barbecued/grilled fish and meat in the air. So I grab every chance when someone asks “upod ka? ma-Dagyang ta!” (You want to go with us? Let’s go Dagyang — meaning to enjoy –)
On the day of the Dinagyang, over the years I have already declined watching Dinagyang on the streets, preferring to watch on television to have a better view minus the scorching sun. It is televised live in the local TV's but not on national broadcasts. They only give snippets of the festivities.
As to who are involved, Dinagyang has become a fierce competition of different “tribes” from schools and towns in Iloilo. The warriors of La Paz National High School with the name Tribu Paghidaet have dominated the competition for years. In fact if I am not mistaken, there was a time they have participated only to showcase and not to compete to give chance to other tribes. The strong rivalry has made the festival more colorful with each tribe eager to have the best costume and the best moves.
More about Tribu Paghidaet:visit website: www.Lapazenians.ning.com and www.Lapazenians.multiply.comFrienster: Spa_lpnhs@yahoo.com and Janzy07_tagz@yahoo.com
Dinagyang is an exclusive Iloilo (in Panay Island in the Visayas region) festival akin to the Sinulog of Cebu. I remember that the main festival is celebrated every 4th Sunday of January. Prior to the main festivity is the Kasadyahan which takes place on Saturday. It is at this time of the year when the streets of Iloilo is filled with young and old alike to enjoy nightly “open-air” dining and beer drinking. There are particular streets in downtown Iloilo where food stalls and some restaurants are set up temporarily for the revelry. I personally love the smell of barbecued/grilled fish and meat in the air. So I grab every chance when someone asks “upod ka? ma-Dagyang ta!” (You want to go with us? Let’s go Dagyang — meaning to enjoy –)
On the day of the Dinagyang, over the years I have already declined watching Dinagyang on the streets, preferring to watch on television to have a better view minus the scorching sun. It is televised live in the local TV's but not on national broadcasts. They only give snippets of the festivities.
As to who are involved, Dinagyang has become a fierce competition of different “tribes” from schools and towns in Iloilo. The warriors of La Paz National High School with the name Tribu Paghidaet have dominated the competition for years. In fact if I am not mistaken, there was a time they have participated only to showcase and not to compete to give chance to other tribes. The strong rivalry has made the festival more colorful with each tribe eager to have the best costume and the best moves.
More about Tribu Paghidaet:visit website: www.Lapazenians.ning.com and www.Lapazenians.multiply.comFrienster: Spa_lpnhs@yahoo.com and Janzy07_tagz@yahoo.com
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