Drumbeats, cheers, waves of laughter, and songs in honor of Señor Santo Niño will once again fill the streets of the country’s City of Love as the highlights of Dinagyang Festival 2023 commence.

Hailed as the “best tourism event” in the Philippines, Iloilo Dinagyang Festival recently started the major events of its week-long celebration.

The Opening Salvo, January 13, was joined by over 20,000 locals and foreign guests who witnessed a glimpse of the performing tribe groups for the Dinagyang ILOmination and Dagyang sa Barangay tribe competitions which will be held on Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. and 22 at 8 a.m., respectively. Also, the Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan will take place on Jan. 21

Food lovers are to expect the Dinagyang Food Festival starting Jan. 19 until 22 along the streets of the downtown area and in various malls of the City.

Aside from these, a basket-full of side events are also being held in different venues in the city. These include sports tournaments, jobs fair, arts and cultural exhibits, light shows and fireworks displays, and trade fairs, among others.

Expected to grace these events are a number of local guests and foreign tourists as well as international dignitaries including some ambassadors and consuls, and national officials of the government.

Meanwhile, the annual festivity will cap with an Awarding Ceremony on the evening of Jan. 22 and a thanksgiving mass on the afternoon of Jan. 23.

For the organizers and the city government, “Dinagyang Festival is not just a week-long celebration full of festivities and merry-making activities; it is the presentation of a diverse culture locally and internationally while telling the stories of the Ilonggos and their devotion to Señor Santo Niño since it first arrive at the shores of the City in 1968.” (JBG/FRG/PIA6)