APART from the Ati Ati tribes that painted every corner of the progressive city of Iloilo last weekend, dance drama presentations depicting faith to God, good harvest and celebrations for local icons also took part in the sidelights of the world class Dinagyang through the Kasadyahan Festival 2017.
The festival seeks to promote a healthy inter-town and city competition among festival dances in Western Visayas.
Throwing their charm in the City of Love are representatives from San Carlos City, Guimaras Island, Antique province and local government units from the highly diverted cultural hubs in the province of Iloilo.
Considered as among the biggest cultural competitions in the region, Kasadyahan fest is a pioneer initiative of the Dinagyang Festival cultural organization in line with the agenda of Department of Tourism to showcase the best street parties in every corner of the Philippines.
Guimaras' Manggahan Festival, an annual week-long celebration that commemorates the conversion of the former sub-province of Iloilo into a full-pledge province, emerged victorious after bagging the Championship trophy.
The dance presentation showcased their creativity while telling the story of the province’s glorious history, vibrant culture and interesting way of life, proving that Guimaras, apart from sweet mangoes, is home to a world class fiesta that is very much "tasteful."
The municipality of Murcia showcased its Tinabuay Festival, the two-time champion in the annual Panaad sa Negros Festival Dances Competition since 2015. For a first timer, it finished third and earned great experience in what is considered as the "Festival of Champions." It secured its dancers a prize of P100,000.
Tinabu-ay sa Murcia Harvest Festival is a depiction of the people's undying hope to provide for their children and the peaceful way of life in the quaint but charming town of Murcia.
Apart from baskets, organic and poultry products in larger than life displays, revelers engaged in their artistic presentation of the Kasalang Bayan, a yearly tradition in honor of faith to Immaculada Conception every November 8.
Beyond the bats of the romantic Mambukal Resort, the famous Santa Cruzan de Murcia, the large cock farms being nurtured and the post card ready views of never ending greens kissing the blue skies it's blessed with, Tinabu-ay is about our devotion and a faith that remains unshaken.
The winning tribes include: champion - Hubon Binagtong sa Manggahan sang Nueva Valencia Guimaras; 1st runner-up, Tribu Tatusan sang Antique; 2nd runner-up, Tribu Pintados de Passi sang Passi City; 3rd runner-up, Tribu Tinabuay sang Cansilayan National High School sa Murcia Negros Occidental; 4th runner-up, Tribu Salakayan sang Miag-ao.
Bagging the special prizes are Pintados de Passi, Best in Street Dance; and Hubon Binagtong sa Manggahan sang Nueva Valencia Guimaras, Best in Music, Best in Musical Director, Best in Costume, Best in Choreography, Best in Choreographer and Best in Performance.