Dinagyang
By Eleonor P. Berondo

RHYTHM... drums... faces... colors! If you're looking for all these in January, Iloilo City is just the place for you. It's undeniable these days that Iloilo is oozing with excitement. The air is filled with anticipation that streets get instantly jammed at the sound of the distant drums. From the smiles of the people from all walks of life, everyone awaits for Dinagyang.

Dinagyang is one of Iloilo's pride aside from its rich culture. It is a month-long celebration of street dancing, merry-making, food tripping and culture presentation of the Ilonggos in honor of their patron Señor Sto. Niño. The festival is celebrated as thanksgiving for the good harvest, abundance and grace and for keeping the land safe against strong typhoons.

Dinagyang comes from the Hiligaynon word "dagyang," which means to make merry or merry-making. It had its first beginnings in 1968, when a replica of the image of Señor. Sto. Niño was brought from Cebu City to the San Jose Parish Church by Fr. Sulpicio Enderes, O.S.A., with the delegation of Confradia del Sto. Niño, Cebu members and was enthusiastically welcomed at Iloilo City by San Jose Church parish priest, Fr. Ambrosio Galindez, O.S.A, Mayor Reinerio Ticao and the devotees of the Sto. Ni¤o in Iloilo City. The image was brought to San Jose Parish Church and is enshrined there up to this time, where a novena is held every Friday.

The first parish feast of Señor Sto. Niño was celebrated in 1969, a year after His arrival in Iloilo City. The culmination of that nine-day novena was the fluvial procession.

The celebration was first called Iloilo Ati-Atihan and became the biggest attraction among all regional festivals nationwide and earned the admiration of international dignitaries present.

In 1975, the activities centered on the Ati-Atihan and Kasadyahan (Mardi Gras) contests since the crowd were all drawn to it. Costumes became more ornate and fabulous. Designed, cut and hand-sewn according to specifications and came out kaleidoscopic colors and vary in forms. Materials for costumes were researched by the competing tribes. Even movements and frantic dance steps as the tribes practiced were executed behind locked doors. Choreography was made part of the criteria in both Ati-Atihan and Kasadyahan contests. With soot painted all over their bodies, one could just fantasize on anything that hits their faces and in wild abandon, dance to the cacophonous beat of the drums that all mingled with the laughter from merrymakers. All gestures and dance steps are designed in rhythmic fashion to the beat of drums and gongs that never fails to elicit "ooohs" and "aaaahs" from the audience.

In 1976, Marcos declared that each province in the country should develop a tourist attraction to lure not only the foreign but domestic tourists to visit places in our country and to know more about Philippines and its people. Iloilo City thought of having the Feast of Santo Niño and the Ati-Atihan and Kasadyahan as main attractions.

In 1977, the Iloilo City Government, which now heads the yearly celebration in coordination with the Department of Tourism (DOT), brainstormed for a distinctive, typical Ilonggo word to identify the festival. It was Pacifico S. Sudario coined the word Dinagyang and was adopted. From then on, the festival has been called Dinagyang. (Sun.Star Iloilo/Sunnex)

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