Dinagyang Festival : The Queen of Festivals in the Philippines

The first time I witnessed the Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City way back in 2009, I was awed by the whole festivity.  It was full of energy, fast and grandiose. The drumbeats are haunting. An experience that I would like to share to the rest of the country.

Since then, I would join the festivities every  year to witness and capture the colorful event wherein competing tribes from different schools and barangays in Iloilo City participate. 

Each of the contingent is funded by the city government and sponsored by private business establishments  or institutions.  This fund is used to finance their costumes and props as well as payment for their choreographers, designers, and other technical staff. Participating tribes are composed of  warriors, back up dancers, ladies, tribe leaders, drummers or musicians, propsmen, and school or barangay officials. 

One thing that I really admire in this festival is the spectacular dance performance of the tribes. The choreography has complicated dance routines, eardrum-assaulting drumbeats, quick changing of costumes, and the most creative props. Each presentation includes a lot of props. And that includes those backdrops with artistic visuals and the risers.

Each of these tribes perform infront of 5 sets of judges at 5 different stages. And this is one thing that sets Dinagyang apart from the other cultural festivals that I have witnessed. Spectators don't need to compress in one location.  But, I couldn't imagine how exhausting it would be to the performers of each tribe dancing continuously from one stage to the other. In between of these stages, tribes also perform on the streets and they are also being judge on this particular street dancing category. 

Nevertheless, I would say Dinagyang is the most organized, vibrant and  must -go festival in the country. It truly stands out from the rest.

You may not believe it, but each of these participating tribes start practicing their dances as early as October of the current year. Then the advent of the festival can already be felt by December as these tribes now perform on the streets with minimal dance choreography. They call it the " Pamukaw" a local term which means to awaken.   

A week before the 3rd Sunday of January comes the Opening Salvo.  In this event, all of the competing tribes give a glimpse of what would the spectators would expect to see on the highlight of the festival. Performers  are usually  in  unconventional costumes and perform on the streets and concludes at the  Freedom Grandstand. 

The higlight of this festival comes on the third Sunday of January.    The Tambor Trumpa Martsa Musika, a competition of different schools'drum and lyre corps in Iloilo culminates on a Friday. Then comes the Kasadyahan on Saturday. Here, festivals of each town in Iloilo as well as neighboring provinces and cities like Negros Occidental, Antique and Bacolod City compete to showcase the rich culural heritage of the whole Western Visayas. Then the Ati Tribe Competition comes on Sunday.  However, since 2020 the Kasadyahan was omitted and instead the original Sadsad sa Kalye was brought back to life. This event is now participated by different barangay tribes while the Ati Tribes Competition is now for the schools.  Nevertheless, the spectacle is just the same only that the barangay tribes have been given their time to shine as they were being overpowered by the competing school tribes

 before. 

When the night comes,  people delight in the vivacious street party  celebration with lots of food and drinks. 

And because of these, Dinagyang has been known not just all over the country but overseas.

So, if you are a first-timer in Dinagyang, I would like to share some personal tips that I have learned through my experiences in this festivity :

1. If you are a local or foreign tourist, you should make your hotel bookings as early as December or you may end up sleeping on low-budget inns or worst on park benches. Mind you, there are small hotels that double their room rates when January comes.  I've experienced that when I was still new to the place.

2. Make a research of the best places to go, to dine , to stay and all other things about Iloilo. You could save on your budget and time if you plan ahead.  Social media is of great help.

3. Make sure to wear comfortable clothes and footwear during the highlights of the festivity. You would be walking a lot since all major thoroughfares going to the city are closed  at that time. And don't forget to bring along bottled water with you to keep you hydrated.

4. It is customary but not mandatory to give some little tip to these  dancers donned in costumes whenever you ask to take pictures with them.

5. "When in Rome, do what the Romans do ". Join with the locals in merry-making.  Dance in the streets to the beat of the drums. Have fun.

Last, tell your family and friends about your experiences of Dinagyang. Invite them to come next year.

Hala Bira Iloilo!