Dinagyang 2013 now trending

ILOILO City’s Dinagyang Festival 2013 climaxed on a high note showcasing the city’s premier celebration and Ilonggos cultural excellence, the city mayor said.

“Dinagyang leveled up. It was trending on Twitter (or talk of the town on the popular social networking site). It was perfect, seamless and amazing,” said Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog of the successful staging of the 45th year Sapphire anniversary of the festival.

Dinagyang became more popular in terms of participation and performance – it is a living, dynamic and growing festival, said City Tourism Officer Ben Jimena.

This year’s champion Tribu Panayanon of Iloilo City National High School and Kasadyahan winner Tribu Salakayan of Miag-ao, Iloilo are expected to wow national audience in Aliwan Fiesta’s battle of festivals in Manila in April to promote the city as bannered by the world-class Dinagyang Festival.

Dinagyang has also become the first religious-cultural celebration in the country to be conferred the prestigious 2012 National Galing Pook Awards as “Community Participation and Collaborative Governance through Dinagyang Festival” won as one of Top 10 innovative and exemplary practice.

The awards was handed by President Benigno S. Aquino III in a ceremony to be held at the Heroes Hall of Malacañang on Jan. 30.

As local governance best practice, the festival highlights strong public-private partnership spearheaded by a triumvirate of the city government, Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. and San Jose Parish Church.

The Awards Program is facilitated by the Galing Pook Foundation as a foremost resource institution continuously promoting innovation and excellence in local governance. (PIO)