ILOILO City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog will lead a delegation of Iloilo Dinagyang Festival dancers and drummers and some officials of City Hall and the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) to Hong Kong on June 5-8.
The delegation of Dinagyang Tribu Panayanon of the Iloilo City National High School is composed of 48 students, school principal Blesilda Floro and choreographer Romel Flogen, together with City Tourism Officer Benito Jimena, IDFI officials Marissa Segovia, Robert Alor, Hermie Ore, Eden Deriada, Annie and Joren Sartorio. They will leave Iloilo for a midnight direct flight to Hong Kong on Thursday, June 5.
Mabilog and city Councilors Nielex Tupas and Jay Treñas will leave Iloilo on June 7 for the grand parade in Hong Kong slated on June 8, to be held in celebration of the 116th Philippine Independence Day.
The Iloilo City Dinagyang contingent was invited to the Hong Kong Independence Day celebration by the Philippine Association of Hong Kong composed of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Chinese territory and the Philippine Consulate to show off the pride of Iloilo City to thousands of OFWs.
On June 8, the Dinagyang tribe will perform at the parade ground of the central business district of Hong Kong together with singer actress Regine Velasquez and other Filipino talents.
A send-off mass will be held at the San Jose Parish Church in the morning of June 5 for the Iloilo Dinagyang delegation. (Lydia C. Pendon)