News

Paghidaet, Atub-Atub, Kahilwayan triumph

TRIBU Paghidaet still reigns as the Dinagyang's top tribe in the ati-ati Open Category.

Atub-Atub, unseated Molave in the Barangay Category, while Kahilwayan of Sta. Barbara kept its crown in the Kasadyahan contest.

The awarding ceremony, attended by 20,000 people, was held Sunday evening at the Freedom Grandstand. Mayor Jerry P. Treñas and Dinagyang Executive Director Ben Jimena were on hand to lead the awarding.

Tribu Paghidaet, composed of students from Lapaz National High School, was on its first defense of its title this year after bagging last year's championship of the Ati-ati Open Category.

In last year's Ati-ati contest, Tribu Paghidaet snatched the top award from seven-time champion Tribu Bola Bola of the Iloilo National High School. Bola Bola took a bye, this year.

Tribu Paghidaet, as champion, received a P40,000 cash prize plus P10,000 from Sen. Robert Jaworski, and two trophies - one from the Dinagyang Foundation and a gold-plated Presidential trophy from President Arroyo.

The tribe manager is Helen H. Deguma, while the tribe leader is Raffy Villanueva. It's choreographer is Ramil Huyatid.

The tribe had a budget of P378,000. It had 80 warriors, 70 drummers and 30 utility staff.

Other than being proclaimed the champion, the tribe also bagged several special awards - Best in Choreography, Best in Performance, Best in Music and Best in Costume of P5,000 each, plus soft awards for most unique costume and for most colorful costume at P1,000 each.

As champion in the Open Category, Tribuy Paghidaet also earned the honor of participating in the Aliwan Awards in May, this year in Metro Manila where the winner will earn P1 million.

First timer Tribu Jalaud of Calinog won the 1st runner-up prize in the Open Category. The tribe was sponsored by Rep. Imee Marcos of Ilocos Norte, and managed by Calinog Mayor Alex Centena.

The tribe received a prize of P30,000 in cash and P5,000 cash from Senator Jaworski.

Tribu Lunok of Iloilo City National High School came out 2nd runner up, bagging a total of P23,000 prize, including Jaworski's P3,000 donation. The tribe was also acclaimed as the Most Disciplined tribe, receiving a prize of P5,000 for it.

Another first-timer, Tribu Sagrada Familia was 3rd runner-up. The tribe also won the award for Best Headdress, receiving an additional P1,000 prize for it.

In the Barangay Category, Tribu Atub-atub dethroned Molave, last year's champion, in the Ati-ati contest in the Barangay Category. Molave made it only as 1st runner-up, this year.

Atub-Atub received a total prize of P47,000, including P7,000 was donated by the ambassadors of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. It also won a Presidential trophy.

It also bagged almost all of the special awards.

Atub-atub won the Best in Choreography, Best in Performance, Best in Music, Most Disciplined and Best in Costume special awards, which had P5,000 in cash each.

Molave, as 1st runner-up, received a total prize of P35,000, including the P5,000 donated by the three Asean ambassadors.

Tribu Panaad placed 2nd runner-up, receiving a total prize of P23,000 to include P3,000 donated by the three ambassadors.

Tribu Kongo placed 3rd runner-up. It received a total prize of P10,000, while 4th placer Tribu Hamili, got P5,000.

Tribu Kalubihan bagged the Best Headdress and Most Unique Costume awards, while Aninipay was awarded the Most Colorful Costume.

For the second time since last year, defending champion Tribu Kahilwayan kept its crown this year in the Kasadyahan contest.

The tribe, which is from Sta. Barbara, received P20,000 cash prize and a trophy.

It was adjudged as having the best choreography, performance and music, each carrying a prize of P5,000.

Passi City's Pintados de Pasi placed 1st runner-up, bagging P15,000 in prize money. The tribe also had the best costume, winning an additional P5,000 for it.

West Visayas State University's Tribu Maragtas was immediately behind Pintados de Pasi, winning P10,000 prize money.

Tribu Guimbal, on the other hand, was adjudged as having the best float, winning P5,000 in cash. (Sun.Star Iloilo/Sunnex)

IT'S all systems go for this Sunday's Dinagyang 10K, which blasts off in front of the Freedom Grandstand.

Youth and Sports Development Officer Romeo Manikan, Jr. and Rommel Castro said all coordinating agencies had their final briefing Thursday from national race director Raffy Uytiepo in City Hall.

Present in Thursday's meeting were the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary Group under Squadron Commander Capt. Nilo Sayon who will act as mobile marshals and communicators, Philippine National Red Cross represented by Jun Deslate, the Iloilo Traffic Management Group through Supt. Campos and the technical committee headed by Rudy Fernandez and Noel Diel.

Meanwhile, Uytiepo said more support for the race is pouring in. The latest to give assistance is the Nike Sports Center operated by Jerry Sy. Earlier, Guimaras Spring Water, under it's president Lenny dela Cruz, has agreed to provide bottled water in all the water aid stations. The race is also being backed by Faforma, Casa Ilongga and the City Government.

The champion in the male division will receive P3,000, the second placer P2,000 and the third placer P1,000. In the women's division, the champion is assured of P2,000 while the second and the third placers pocket P1,500 and P1,000 respectively. Winners in both divisions will also receive trophies. Fourth to 10th placers will receive medals with the top 100 finishers receiving T-shirts.

Runners have until Saturday to register at Faforma Botique in Gaisano City while registration ends today at the Youth and Sports Development Office at City Hall. (Jan. 17, 2003 issue)

Dinagyang will be safe: Treñas

MAYOR Jerry P. Treñas Wednesday gave his assurance that this year's Dinagyang festivities will be safe.

"We're doing our best to ensure that there will be no problems as regards the security of our visitors," he declared, following his meeting with the City Peace and Order Council Wednesday.

"The Philippine National Police (PNP) has assured me that they are ready with the security arrangements for the Dinagyang," he added.

Treñas said the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 has assured the Iloilo City Police Office of augmentation forces from the regional office.

"The PNP assured me that the augmentation forces the ICPO has asked will arrive," he stressed.

This is aside from two teams of bomb and drug-sniffing dogs set to arrive.

The teams, said Treñas, were promised by PNP Chief Hermogenes Ebdane earlier.

"All these we are doing to assure our public that our Dinagyang will be very safe for everyone," he pointed out.

He also warned people who plan on bringing weapons or firearms during the revelry.

"There will be a lot of plainclothes police personnel. They will be conducting random frisks among the crowd. So if you get caught, you will be imprisoned," Treñas said sternly, adding there will be plenty of cops around during the celebrations.

On Jan. 17 will be the opening salvo for the Dinagyang. Sources say that the police will be conducting a dry-run of their security plan on that day. (Jan. 16, 2003 issue)

Dogs to help secure Dinagyang festivities
By Ronilo Ladrido Pamonag

DOGS are indeed man's best friends. And they just might help secure revelers in the forthcoming Dinagyang 2003 festivities.

At least three teams of bomb and drug-sniffing dogs will be deployed by the Police Regional Office 6 during the Dinagyang celebrations, said Mayor Jerry P. Treñas Monday.

The mayor said Philippine National Police chief, Director General Hermogenes Ebdane has pledged to send at least three teams.

Treñas informed that it will be coursed through the PRO 6.

He said, though, that the City Government will have to spend for the accommodations of the dogs and their handlers. "It's okay nevertheless. We need it anyway."

Also, augmentation teams will be made available by the PRO 6.

Treñas informed that Police Regional Director, Chief Supt. Marcelo Navarro Jr. has assured him of enough police personnel to secure the Dinagyang festivities.

"Chief Supt. Navarro said they will provide what we will ask for," Treñas said.

The mayor was happy to inform that there is no intelligence report so far on groups out to sabotage the festivities.

"But we are not taking chances," the mayor stressed, though.

PORTABLE DETENTION CELLS

If portable toilets, or the so-called portalets, will be put up in several locations in the City Proper, so too will portable detention cells, if Treñas has his way.

He expects the City Peace and Order Council to present this suggestion in today's meeting with him.

When asked if he favors such, he expressed support.

"Of course," he said.

This portable detention cells, Treñas is eyeing, are for those who are very intoxicated and can barely lift or control themselves.

These portable detention cells, which are usually nothing but container vans improvised to look like cells, have been noted in some areas in the City Proper during the previous years of the Dinagyang.

'LEAVE THOSE WEAPONS AT HOME'

In a related development, Treñas disclosed that non-uniformed, as well as uniformed policemen, will be deployed, especially during the contest of tribes on January 26.

They, Treñas said, will be conducting random body frisks.

"So if they catch you with a weapon or firearm, you will go straight to jail," he warned.

"So it's better that you will not bring weapons," Treñas advised.

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