Tuesday, January 30, 2007 Cooperation behind bigger, better Dinagyang: Treñas By Lory Ann B. Bilbao
ILOILO City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said the bigger and better result of the Dinagyang is the product of the cooperation between the private and the public organizations here.
Further, the mayor said the success of the festival has established a sense of pride for all Ilonggos.
The Dinagyang, which has took its finale last Sunday, showed the relevance of the Ilonggos' deeply rooted culture.
For 39 years of existence, the city's premier festival, which is devoted Sr. Sto. Niño, gathers more and more audience --- local and foreign, every year.
Treñas hoped that the teamwork between the members of the community, non-government organizations and the local government institutions being manifested would continue and extend not only for the festival but also for the good of the City of Iloilo.
The Dinagyang was recently recognized as the Best Tourism Event in the country and the first tourism even which was chosen to promote the United Nations' millennium goals.
Treñas said some 1.2 million spectators supported the festival.
Blame
Meanwhile, Ben Jimena, executive director of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc said the delay in the awarding ceremony last Sunday should not be blamed on two television networks --- ABS-CBN and GMA.
Last Sunday, the two networks fielded their talents before the awarding ceremony started, causing some spectators from the provinces to complain.
"Blame the foundation, not the networks. We hope to correct it next year," Jimena said.(With reports from Marie Katherine Villalon)
