A Complete Success: Face-To-Face Dinagyang Festival 2023 Exceeded Expectations

Iloilo City Finally Celebrates the Dinagyang Festival 2023 in Person

Held every year on the 4th Sunday of January, the Dinagyang Festival is a religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City, Philippines. The festival is held after the Sinulog in Cebu and the Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan. It attracts more than a million tourists every year that is why it is regarded as one of the grandest festivals in the Philippines. Furthermore, it is also the most awarded in the country and is known as the Queen of all Philippine festivals.

Facts About the Dinagyang Festival

Dinagyang is the Hiligaynon word for merrymaking. The festival is Iloilo City’s version of the Ati-atihan celebrations widely observed not only in Panay Island but also in other parts of the Philippines.

Dinagyang Festival is known far and wide for its participants’ great choreography and colorful and bold costumes that reflect Ilonggo ingenuity, craftsmanship, and artistry.

The three major events of the Dinagyang are the Ati Tribe Competition, Dagyang sa Calle Real, and the Miss Iloilo Dinagyang.

Festivities This 2023

The celebration this year is more memorable and special because it is the first time it is again celebrated after a two-year break due to the pandemic. According to Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, the festivities this 2023 beat expectations, with thousands of tourists attending the different festival activities.

The mayor further stated that the festival was a complete success and that everybody wanted a strong comeback. Understandable because every person attending the festival was excited to be able to celebrate it face-to-face and feel the energy within the crowd and all the music. This year’s celebration also showed that Dinagyang and Sto. Nino are beyond politics, he further stated since personalities from opposite sides of the political arena came to enjoy the festivities.

Dinagyang Festival 2023 Sponsors

Dinagyang would not have been a success if not for the hard work of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), organizer of Dinagyang 2023, the participating tribes, and corporate sponsors, among others, according to Mayor Treñas.

He thanked all the sponsors from the private sector for their overwhelming contributions in the festival’s success. “Your strong support in all our activities played a meaningful role in the overall success of the festival,” said Treñas.

SM City Iloilo was Dinagyang’s top sponsor and served as the venue for a lot of the activities including the first-ever Dinagyang Ilomination on January 21, Festival costumes exhibit, Batchoy Festival, and a concert of the leading performing artists in the country today, including Darren Espanto.

Distinguished Guests in Iloilo City

Present in the celebration was First Lady Atty. Liza Araneta Marcos and some famous government officials like House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Mark Villar, Risa Hontiveros, Bong Revilla, and Francis Tolentino. Former senator Franklin Drilon was also there. YouTube sensation Small Laude, broadcast journalist Karen Davila, lifestyle columnist and philanthropist Tessa Prieto Valdez, television presenter and entrepreneur Tim Yap were also present. They were warmly welcomed by Mayor Jerry Treñas and president of SM Supermalls, Steven Tan.

Among the dignitaries from foreign embassies who attended the festivities were Romanian Ambassador to the Philippines Raduta Dana Matache with Mr. Constantin Matache; Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Agus Widjojo and his wife, Mme. Ranny Agus Widjojo; Royal Thai Ambassador to the Philippines Tull Traisorat; Royal Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Christian Halaas Lyster; Hungary Ambassador to the Philippines Titanilla Toth; Embassy of Poland Ambassador to the Philippines Jaroslaw Szczepankiewicz; Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Ms. P.G.P. Kaushalya; Consul General of Japan in Cebu Hideki Yamaji; and Embassy of the United States in the Philippines Chief Consuls Kristofer Graf and Leo Balantac.