Dinagyang 2019 opens today

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

THE much-anticipated Dinagyang Festival officially opens today, Jan 11, 2019.

Robert Alor, tribes committee chair, said eight tribes will perform during the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival 2019 opening salvo at 3 p.m. today.

The salvo commences from the New Freedom Grandstand on Muelle Loney Street, City Proper in Iloilo City.

For the second time, the opening salvo will only be a street performance instead of a contest so that tribes can save funds for their final performance on Jan 27, according to Alor.

“Nakita namon nga gin-birahan nila sa costume, gingastusan nila kag kadako sang nakaon which is pagkatapos wala na malang dayon. Pwede pa ina ma-allot para sa final,” he said.

Despite the lack of competition, Alor said the public can still expect a grand presentation by the eight competing tribes which will be given seven minutes each to perform.

“Sila mismo indi man na magpabaya lang gid nga daw sa waay lang kay ti ngalan man na sang ila tribu ang gina proteksyonan nila. May ara gid sila nga gin-choreograph kag ginprepare para sa opening salvo,” he said.

The eight competing tribes are Panayanon of Iloilo City National High School, Salognon of Jaro National High School, Ilonganon of Jalandoni Memorial National High School, Dagatnon of Ramon Avanceña National High School, Paghidaet of La Paz National High School, Hugponganon of Tiu Cho Teg-Ana Ros Foundation Integrated School, Pan-ay of Fort San Pedro National High School, and Barriohanon of Bo. Obrero National High School.

The tribes will be performing in the five areas: new grandstand, Capitol, Quezon-Ledesma, Aldeguer, and Plaza Libertad.

Meanwhile, the two non-competing tribes, Tribu Bola-Bola of Iloilo National High School and Tribu Miru of the Indigenous Community from Barotac Viejo and Anilao will not perform in the opening salvo.

This year, the competing tribes were allotted P1.2 million each (a P200,000 increase from 2018) for their subsidies.

Meanwhile, the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office earlier announced the traffic rerouting for the opening salvo.

The following streets will be temporarily closed during the opening salvo: General Luna Street – from corner Mabini St. until corner Muelley Loney St., Delgado Street – from corner Jalandoni St. until corner F. Caram St., Ledesma Street – from corner Mabini St. until corner Iznart St., J.De Leon Street – from Quezon St. until corner Muelle Loney St., MAPA Street – from corner Gen. Blanco until corner JM Basa St., and Guanco Street– corner Muelle Loney until corner Rizal St.

Prior to the opening salvo at 3 p.m., the new grandstand will be blessed at 8 a.m. followed by the turning over of the newly restored Sunburst Park at JM Basa Street at 10 a.m.

Later in the evening, the very first Ilonggo Youth Music Festival, which is a free concert featuring local musicians, will also kick off at 6 pm.