ILOILO CITY -- Three major cultural festivals in Western Visayas are set to perform in the Guimaras Manggahan Festival 2017.
Liberty Ferrer, OIC provincial tourism officer, confirmed that the Ati-Atihan Festival of Kalibo, Aklan, Masskara Festival of Bacolod City, and Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City, will grace the Western Visayas Invitational Cultural Presentation in the afternoon of May 21.
These festivals will perform in three staging areas: Jordan Food Terminal Market, Rotonda and Food Court Area, all in Barangay San Miguel in Jordan town, Guimaras province.
The province's very own, Hubon Binagtong sa Manggahan, the second prize winner of the Aliwan Fiesta Street Dancing Competition and the champion of Dinagyang Kasadyahan Competition, will also perform.
The participation of major festivals in the region in the Manggahan Festival 2017 is in line with the province's celebration of its 25th founding anniversary on May 22.
Ati-atihan and Dinagyang Festivals are celebrated every 3rd week of January. Both festivals are held in honor of Sto. Niño or the Holy Child Jesus.
Ati-atihan is known for street merry-making. Guests can join in the revelry after the Holy Mass.
Dinagyang is popular for the beautifully and artistically choreographed performances of "tribes and warriors" represented by the different participating schools in the Ati Tribe Competition. Cultural festivities of other towns and cities also perform in the Kasadyahan Competition.
Masskara Festival of Bacolod City is distinct for its beautiful masks wore by performers dancing in the streets.
Ferrer said the province has stepped up its tourism promotion in the past years to show the world "how beautiful Guimaras is, not only to showcase the Guimaras mangoes, but also our beautiful destinations like beaches and, of course, the hospitality of Guimarasnons."
The Manggahan Festival and the island-province's anniversary celebration will commence on May 11 up to May 22 at the Provincial Capitol.
The Manggahan sa Kabanwahanan, or the celebration of Manggahan in the five towns of Guimaras namely Jordan, Buenavista, San Lorenzo, Sibunag, and Nueva Valencia, started last month. (PNA)