Sto Niño de Cebu comes to Iloilo

7 tibes to compete in Kasadyahan tilt

Treñas, wife receive blessings as 'Hermano and Hermana Mayor'

See Dinagyang on exhibit at SM City

7 tribes to compete in kasadyahan tilt

Dinagyang Foundation, tribes settle problems

Countdown to Dinagyang '05 starts

Tuesday, January 18, 2005
DINAGYANG FESTIVAL OPENS
Sto. Niño de Cebu comes to Iloilo

A replica of the image of Señor Sto. Niño arrived in Iloilo City Friday.

The image, coming from Basilica de Sto. Niño de Cebu, was brought to the San Jose Parish Church by a team of lay ministers led by Fr. Mar Mejorada.

It arrived at 1:40 p.m. at the Mandurriao airport.

The image and its party was welcomed by Fr. Roy Margallo, Mayor Jerry Treñas, Vice Mayor Guillermo dela Llana and other officials as well as Ilonggo Sto. Niño devotees.

The image is now at the San Jose Church. The church leaders will decide on the schedule of visitations of the image and its subsequent return to Cebu.

Visitations will be conducted in all metro churches, shopping malls, and parishes.

"The Señor Sto. Niño's arrival depicted the early beginnings of the Dinagyang in 1968 when the original image was brought from Cebu to the San Jose Church. This symbolizes our continuity of devotion regardless of the place," Fr. Margallo said. The original image is now housed at the San Jose Church.

Iloilo is one of the provinces that have the original image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu.

Historical records indicate that the first parish feast of the Sto. Niño was celebrated a year after it was brought to Iloilo. Activities then included a nine-day novena, and a fluvial procession. In 1976, street revelry was introduced and was known as the Iloilo Ati-atihan with parades and competing tribes.

That revelry has since evolved into the Dinagyang Festival.

Meanwhile, the Dinagyang Festival kicked off with an opening salvo afterwards. Several tribes participated in the parade, which started from the Plaza Libertad to the Freedom Grandstand.

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SEVEN tribes will compete for this year's Kasadyahan competition of the Dinagyang Festival on January 22.

These are Bayluhay from Don Felix Serra National High School in San Joaquin; Kalamay from San Enrique National Comprehensive High School; Landing from Cabatuan; Mandurriaonon from Mandurriao National High School; Maragtas from West Visayas State University; Pintados de Pasi from Passi National High School; and Urukay-Binirayan from St. Andrew's High School in Antique.

Each tribe is composed of 70 to 100 dancers.

The tribe leaders are San Joaquin Mayor Ninfa Garin (Bayluhay); San Enrique Mayor Rosario Mediatrix Tupas (Kalamay); Cabatuan Mayor Ramon Yee (Landing); Judith Benjamin (Mandurriaonon); Dr. Lourdes Arañador (Maragtas);Passi City Mayor Elyzer Chavez (Pintados de Passi); and Mayor Glenn Hernaez (Urukay-Binirayan).

Each of the tribes will be required to perform in four judging areas situated at the Freedom Grandstand, Casa Plaza area, Quezon-Ledesma Sts., and Maria Clara area. The tribes will perform in a carousel manner like the ati-atihan competition.

They will be judged according to performance and choreography, including mastery, dance variation, formation, precision and coordination, focus and projection, visual impact and style and expression; costume/uniform/props, including appropriateness of costume, choice of color and style, and effective use of pros relevant to the interpretation of the theme; and music including rhythm, dynamics, and suitability.

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ILOILO CITY Mayor Jerry Treñas and his wife Rosalie last January 12 received blessings as this year's "Hermano and Hermana Mayor" of the Dinagyang Festival.

"The mayor and his wife were chosen to be the 2005 Hermano and Hermana Mayor because they would like to go back to the practice during the Middle Ages, wherein the city mayor serves as the number one protector of the people's faith," said Fr. Roy Margallo, priest of San Jose Parish, during the mass yesterday afternoon.

The Treñas couple received their scepters from outgoing Hermano and Hermana Mayor, Domingo and Imelda Trompeta.

After the turn-over was the blessing of candles and medals.

They also received certificates and were then formally declared 2005 Hermano and Hermana Mayor by Fr. Margallo.

The ceremony ended with a novena prayer for Señor Sto. Niño.

Hermano Mayor is an elder brother of all brothers and sisters of the Confradia del Señor Santo Niño (Santo Niño Confraternity). Hermano is a Spanish word which means brother.

Mayor means elder - an elder borther who is a true Christian and who takes good care of his younger brothers and sisters in the absence of parents, teachers, and provides a good example.

The Hermano Mayor leads his younger brothers and sisters in living a good Christian life in faith, hope, and charity.

Each couple who wants to be qualified must exemplify a strong faith in God and a good heart not only for his loved ones and friends but also for the people who surround them. The main responsibility of the Hermano and Hermana Mayor is to be role models to the people.

Starting yesterday until January 23, a Holy Mass will be held at San Jose Parish everyday and every hour. (Cecille Anne Calicdan)

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SEE the Dinagyang Festival on exhibit until January 23 at SM City Iloilo's Activity Center.

The exhibit features the various costumes, banners, awards, Santo Niño statues and other memorabilia of the tribes that have participated in the Dinagyang Festival's previous editions.

City Tourism Officer Heloise Javellana, exhibits committee chair, said the exhibit is hoped to enable the public to gain a deeper appreciation of the different tribes.

Judges will choose the Best in Tribal Booth, the Most Educational/Informative, the Most Artistic and the Most Ethnic and Traditional booths.

The competition intends to bring out the creativity of the various tribes and encourage them to showcase the best tribal accessories they have, Javellana said.

The winner for the best tribal booth will receive P18,000; first runner-up, P12,000; and second runner-up, P6,000. Non-winning tribes will receive consolation prizes of P1,000 each. All cash prizes will be donated by the SM City Iloilo management.

The tribes who joined the booth competition are: Bantu, Linaw, Pag-asa, Pana-ad, Atub-atub, Parianon, Hamili, Molave, Aninipay, Kalubihan, Dagyaw-ta, Miluvi, Angola, Halimaw, Himala, Bola-bola, Ilonganon and Salognon tribes.

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SEVEN tribes will compete for this year's Kasadyahan competition of the Dinagyang Festival on January 22.

These are Bayluhay from Don Felix Serra National High School in San Joaquin; Kalamay from San Enrique National Comprehensive High School; Landing from Cabatuan; Mandurriaonon from Mandurriao National High School; Maragtas from West Visayas State University; Pintados de Pasi from Passi National High School; and Urukay-Binirayan from St. Andrew's High School in Antique.

Each tribe is composed of 70 to 100 dancers.

The tribe leaders are San Joaquin Mayor Ninfa Garin (Bayluhay); San Enrique Mayor Rosario Mediatrix Tupas (Kalamay); Cabatuan Mayor Ramon Yee (Landing); Judith Benjamin (Mandurriaonon); Dr. Lourdes Arañador (Maragtas);

Passi City Mayor Elyzer Chavez (Pintados de Passi); and Mayor Glenn Hernaez (Urukay-Binirayan).

Each of the tribes will be required to perform in four judging areas situated at the Freedom Grandstand, Casa Plaza area, Quezon-Ledesma Sts., and Maria Clara area. The tribes will perform in a carousel manner like the ati-atihan competition.

They will be judged according to performance and choreography, including mastery, dance variation, formation, precision and coordination, focus and projection, visual impact and style and expression; costume/uniform/props, including appropriateness of costume, choice of color and style, and effectiveuse of pros relevant to the interpretation of the theme; and music including rhythm, dynamics, and suitability.

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IT'S definitely all systems go for the Dinagyang Festival.

Ben Jimena, executive director of Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc., said Tuesday all stakeholders already settled the problems which stemmed from the complaints raised by several tribes on the budget and the guidelines.

Based on the guidelines, new tribes should compete in the Open Category wherein tribes under it do not receive subsidy.

"However, in the last two years, two new tribes were allowed to join the Barangay Category. So, we initially considered these new tribes for the said category only," he said.

However, because of complaints, Foundation decided that they - Baryohanon and Rizalianon - join the Open Category this year.

"As long as the communication lines are open, things will be settled. The bottom line here is not the money; we want to make Iloilo a destination for investors. We also can't do away with the commercial, cultural, and the social aspect of the festivities," he said.

Subsidy for new tribes

Jimena also clarified the Foundation's decision to give additional subsidy to the new tribes.

"We are very generous this year because we got some additional funding," he said.

The existing ruling is for a tribe to avail of a subsidy, it has to be in the top 10 in the previous year and must have joined Dinagyang for three years.

However, this year new tribes will be given P30,000 while the old ones, only P25,000 (not P180,000 as earlier reported), provided they have participated in the last three years.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said the City Government will release the subsidy for the tribes within the week.

Jimena further said, "When we were short of money, we did not give anything to the tribes. But now that we have it, it's the prerogative of the Foundation to give for the purpose of having a beautiful Dinagyang. The festival will not survive if the costumes are just made of carton and the performance is not good."

This year, Smart Telecommunications paid a lock-out sponsorship of P8 million.

"The company relied on the track record of the Foundation.

It's sincerity and honesty in its dealings made the difference," the Foundation' executive director said.

Jimena said the P2.3 million will go to the tribes; P1.5, to the marketing and promotions; and P570,000, to the Kasadyahan.

The police will also receive financial assistance as well as metro aides and other personnel.

"We need everybody to make this festival successful," Jimena said. (KVC with a report from Jennifer M. Depakakibo)

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THE countdown to Dinagyang 2005 started yesterday as organizers disclosed a few changes in the staging of Iloilo City's renowned festival.

The "Pamukaw, which will kick off the Dinagyang season, is set December 17.

Themed "Devotion in Motion: Unity and Peace for Progress," the festivity's highlight is slated January 23 with the much-anticipated Ati-atihan competition.

"There should be a story behind every movement or motion. People will not only expect good choreography but a dance with a soul or spirit (as well)," said Ben Jimena, executive director of the Iloilo Dinagyang Federation Inc. (IDFI), during a press conference at the Barbecue Park yesterday afternoon, following a motorcade along the city's major streets.

Jimena said the second performance area at Plazoleta Gay will be abolished as requested by the tribe managers.

Performers have been complaining the requirement to be judged in five areas affect their performance. They are too tired when they reach the fifth judging area, they said.

The first judging area is at the Freedom Grandstand and the second is now at the Provincial Capitol Grounds. The third along Quezon-Ledesma Sts. and the fourth, at Maria ClaraTo accommodate the people usually occupying the second stage, more bleachers will be put up in other performance areas.

Theme song

Moreover, the Foundation also plans to hold a Dinagyang Song Contest.

"It is high time that Dinagyang has its own theme song, Jimena said.

Miss Dinagyang

Until now, Jimena said, the Foundation is still looking for an organizer of the Miss Dinaygang 2005.

In the event that nobody volunteers, there will be no Miss Dinagyang for 2005, he said. (JMD)

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