By John Noel E. Herrera
Eight tribes from different municipalities in Western Visayas will showcase their unique cultures through dance-drama performances as they face off in the 2023 Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan.
The participating tribes – Tribu Jalaud (Calinog, Iloilo), Tribu Minulu-an (Talisay, Negros Occidental), Tribu Tiringbanay (San Jose de Buenavista, Antique), Guban Manughaw-as sang Dumangas (Dumangas, Iloilo), Sipalay Burangoy Kite Festival (Sipalay City, Negros Occidental), Tribu Saludan (Tigbauan, Iloilo), Tribu Madia (Culasi Antique), and Pasalamat Festival (La Carlota City, Negros Occidental) – were introduced during the festival’s official launching dubbed “Pang-abi-abi: A preview of Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan 2023” on Sunday, Nov 27, 2022 at SM City Iloilo.
Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan chairperson Eden D. Deriada said Kasadyahan will offer a sense of belonging for religious, social, or geographical groups as it presents different cultures from other places.
“We are here to come together and celebrate our unity in diversity. We show how we are one as Filipinos, and we celebrate our culture as our heritage for the future,” Deriada said.
“The involvement of our contingents is a sharing of stories and experiences, promoting diversity. As our neighbors, we are one in sharing our creativity, opportunities for civic pride and discovering friendships along the way,” she added.
Deriada also said that the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc (IFFI) allowed them to choose eight contestants based on who submitted first the intent to join the competition, and by validating the tribes’ background, performances, and achievements.
The committee also launched the new Kasadyahan song, a new version of Iloilo Ang Banwa Ko, arranged by Martie Efrain and Lindy Catequista, which will be used as the music for the street dance competition.
Deriada explained the idea of separating the Kasadyahan from Dinagyang Festival, which was already proposed many times, could not be materialized as people wanted to witness more diverse performances during the festival.
“It was proposed many times pero daw hindi gid ma-materialize kay daw hindi ma-detach ang Kasadyahan sa Dinagyang Festival because kung Dinagyang lang during the festival, amu lang na makita sang mga tao, whereas kung may Kasadyahan, gabalance because it depicts a culture of a certain place,” she said
Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahan is slated on Jan 21, 2022, in four judging areas starting from the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.
This is the first physical comeback of Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahan after it was scrapped as part of the Dinagyang Festival in 2020.
