When: January 24-26, 2020 (main events)
Where: Iloilo City, Iloilo
Every last week of January, the relatively quiet city of Iloilo explodes with activity and people. The reason for the festivities? Dinagyang Festival. Part cultural and religious, Dinagyang is a celebration of Ilonggo culture. The word itself is Hiligaynon for “to celebrate or have fun”, which is exactly what thousands of locals and visitors do just before February comes around. Never been or never understood it? Here’s a festival primer to get you up to speed.
Devotion
A large number of festivals in the Philippines are religious in nature, and Dinagyang is no exception. The short story is, it’s Iloilo’s version of Kalibo’s Ati-Atihan. The more elaborate (and less copycat-sounding) version is that the festival commemorates the arrival of Santo Niño, or Child Jesus, images to Iloilo from Spain.
Dinagyang celebrates this religious origin through a solemn procession. On Friday (January 24 this year), images of the Santo Niño are loaded onto boats that will cross the Iloilo River. The procession continues on land and on foot all the way to San Jose de Placer Church, where the images are housed.
Tribal showcase
While religious devotees still pay respects to Dinagyang’s religious origins, the festival’s main pull is the Ati Tribes Competition, an immersive street dancing competition stretching from morning till night (January 26).
Expect vibrant colors and pounding drum beats. Expect an amazing show perfected by months of practice and physical effort. And expect to chant “hala bira” with the crowd, its battle cry to encourage dancers to keep on dancing their best.
This amazing show of talent is free if you don’t mind standing. You can enjoy the performances at any point of the parade route that snakes through Iloilo City Proper. If you want a better view (and a seat), tickets for the perfomance stages are available through the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. in limited number.
Food and fireworks
In between the main events and throughout the second half of January are many ways for your enjoyment to continue.
Beauty pageant followers can critique along with the official judges during Miss Iloilo 2020 on January 23. During the Ilonggo Food Festival (January 23-26), foodies can fill up on a dizzying amount of the best and freshest seafood and shellfish the city has to offer. Finally, crowds of all kinds can enjoy an evening out with friends and family during the fireworks display on January 24.
Like many aspects of Filipino culture, the Dinagyang Festival is a fusion of unexpected elements. It’s a devotion to the Santo Niño, a celebration of the Aeta and their culture, and so many other things. Most importantly, it’s a festival that fully expresses the Ilonggo (and really, the Filipino) love of dance, food, festivities, and religion.
Ready to enjoy the full Dinagyang experience? Apply for a Perajet loan to book the best flights, accommodation, or tickets to Dinagyang. Our application process is easy, online, and hassle-free.