The celebration of the "Dinagyang Festival" in the Philippines is to honor the religious culture of the Filipino people in the city of Iloilo. To be more specific, this event is to honor the "Santo Nino" and at the same time, a celebration to the arrival of the Malay settlers in Panay. This festival is often held on every 4th Sunday of the month of January.
Going back into the history, Dinagyang Festival was first known as the "Iloilo Ati-Atihan" which started way back on 1967. The very first event was for the celebration of the image replica of the Senor Santo Nino which was brought by San Jose Parish Priest (Rev. Fr. Ambrosio "F. Boy" Galindez of the Roman Catholic) from Cebu into the city of Iloilo. A large number of devotees from Cebu had accompanied the image until its departure and was received by the other Iloilo devotees at the Mandurriao Airport. On 1968, the original replica of the image was brought by Fr. Sulpicio Enderez and presented it as a gift to the Parish of San Jose.
Two years later (1969), the cultural event organizer introduced the Ati-Atihan contest. At first, there were only four tribes who participated on the event. But onwards, more tribes and groups began to participate where the celebration turned into a more colorful and pompous celebration.
In 1974, Iloilo's Ati-Atihan festival played an important role in the program called "Operation Balikbayan" that was organized by the "Ministry of Tourism". The participating tribes actually did a good job by introducing into the tourists their unique and various forms of cultural entertainment.
A larger audience were encouraged to join the street event on 1976. It was like an open event where anyone can join the festival. As a result, there were a large number of competing tribes where they filled the streets with their entertaining cultural performances.
On 1977, the original title of Iloilo's Ati-Atihan Festival was changed into "Dinagyang Festival" by an Ilonggo writer and broadcaster, "Pacifico Sudario". On this same year, Dinagyang organizers and RANGE (Regional Association of National Government Executives) had also invited that "Ati tribe" from the mountains of Barotac Viejo to join the event. The Marcos Administration had also encouraged other various regions of the country to participate on the up-coming festival event which could boost tourism and development of the country.
Starting from 1978 onwards, the Dinagyang Festival was finally recognized by the government and private sectors as an official event of the city.
Today, the event features cultural presentations, youth sport competitions and many other enjoyable activities that are prepared by the organizers. The program is divided into three Major events which are the following:
In order to join the Street Dancing events, there are some few requirements that must be strictly followed. All performers must have their skin painted in a way that it must conform to the indigenous culture (in the beginning, they originally used soot and ashes). The same goes to the materials or costumes to be used. And most of all, the performances are often accompanied by drum music.
Who is Dagoy?
The celebration of Dinagyang Festival isn't complete without the presence of the official mascot named "Dagoy". He wasn't actually derived from a real person but was taken from the promotional sketches of the event back in 2002. Due to its eye-catching appearance, the caricature was adopted as the official logo.
Dagoy was first introduced to the spectators in the month of December 2004 in The Fort, Taguig and in the city of Iloilo.
According to the organizers, they had chosen Dagoy as the official mascot of the event because he depicts a "young Aeta warrior". He also symbolizes jollification and friendship among all other tribes of the region.
Overall, the Dinagyang Festival won the fame as the best Tourism Event back in 2006, 2007 and 2008 which was recognized by the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines. It is also the first local festival in the country supported by the United Nations because of the event's promotion to Millennium Development Goals. The Asian Development Bank also considered the festival as the "Best Practice" of both various government and private sectors.
Going back into the history, Dinagyang Festival was first known as the "Iloilo Ati-Atihan" which started way back on 1967. The very first event was for the celebration of the image replica of the Senor Santo Nino which was brought by San Jose Parish Priest (Rev. Fr. Ambrosio "F. Boy" Galindez of the Roman Catholic) from Cebu into the city of Iloilo. A large number of devotees from Cebu had accompanied the image until its departure and was received by the other Iloilo devotees at the Mandurriao Airport. On 1968, the original replica of the image was brought by Fr. Sulpicio Enderez and presented it as a gift to the Parish of San Jose.
Two years later (1969), the cultural event organizer introduced the Ati-Atihan contest. At first, there were only four tribes who participated on the event. But onwards, more tribes and groups began to participate where the celebration turned into a more colorful and pompous celebration.
In 1974, Iloilo's Ati-Atihan festival played an important role in the program called "Operation Balikbayan" that was organized by the "Ministry of Tourism". The participating tribes actually did a good job by introducing into the tourists their unique and various forms of cultural entertainment.
A larger audience were encouraged to join the street event on 1976. It was like an open event where anyone can join the festival. As a result, there were a large number of competing tribes where they filled the streets with their entertaining cultural performances.
On 1977, the original title of Iloilo's Ati-Atihan Festival was changed into "Dinagyang Festival" by an Ilonggo writer and broadcaster, "Pacifico Sudario". On this same year, Dinagyang organizers and RANGE (Regional Association of National Government Executives) had also invited that "Ati tribe" from the mountains of Barotac Viejo to join the event. The Marcos Administration had also encouraged other various regions of the country to participate on the up-coming festival event which could boost tourism and development of the country.
Starting from 1978 onwards, the Dinagyang Festival was finally recognized by the government and private sectors as an official event of the city.
Today, the event features cultural presentations, youth sport competitions and many other enjoyable activities that are prepared by the organizers. The program is divided into three Major events which are the following:
1. Ati-Ati Street Dancing
2. Kasadyahan Street Dancing
3. Miss Dinagyang
In order to join the Street Dancing events, there are some few requirements that must be strictly followed. All performers must have their skin painted in a way that it must conform to the indigenous culture (in the beginning, they originally used soot and ashes). The same goes to the materials or costumes to be used. And most of all, the performances are often accompanied by drum music.
Who is Dagoy?
The celebration of Dinagyang Festival isn't complete without the presence of the official mascot named "Dagoy". He wasn't actually derived from a real person but was taken from the promotional sketches of the event back in 2002. Due to its eye-catching appearance, the caricature was adopted as the official logo.
Dagoy was first introduced to the spectators in the month of December 2004 in The Fort, Taguig and in the city of Iloilo.
According to the organizers, they had chosen Dagoy as the official mascot of the event because he depicts a "young Aeta warrior". He also symbolizes jollification and friendship among all other tribes of the region.
Overall, the Dinagyang Festival won the fame as the best Tourism Event back in 2006, 2007 and 2008 which was recognized by the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines. It is also the first local festival in the country supported by the United Nations because of the event's promotion to Millennium Development Goals. The Asian Development Bank also considered the festival as the "Best Practice" of both various government and private sectors.
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