Dinagyang 2021 to go ‘all-digital’

 

Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival will push through in 2021 despite the uncertainties amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, one of the festival’s officials confirmed on Saturday.

Atty. Jobert Peñaflorida, President of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), confirmed to Bombo Radyo Iloilo that the celebrations will continue “in balancing the health and the economy” of the city.

There will be no face-to-face events as all events will be broadcast through social media and possibly through local television and radio stations.

The events include the traditional Opening Salvo, Dagyang sa Kalye, and other side events such as the mural, costume, and landmark contests.

The main festivities will continue with pre-taped performances of participating tribes, which will include only 10 individuals 21 years and older.

The mass may either be live or pre-taped, depending on the decision of Fr. Jose Gonzales of the San Jose Placer Parish.

The performers will undergo strict health protocols from their rehearsals to their performance, according to the festivals chief.

“We have to be open to possibilities and we are adjusting to the requirements of these times, and the new normal would require us to balance our health and our economy. The bottomline here is that the Dinagyang is a devotion to Señor Sto. Niño. That is, pandemic or not, the love for our patron continues,” Peñaflorida said.

Peñaflorida added that the decision to go completely digital was based on consultation with various groups involved in organizing the festivities.

Department of Tourism-Region 6 (DOT-6) Director Helen Catalbas already expressed support for an all-virtual Dinagyang 2021.

“Based on consultation with various groups, they expressed that we would go digital. In this particular regard, we took the creativity of our artists and we were surprised with their suggestions. The group of our choreographers gave us [three] options, and the city government chose the safest option,” Peñaflorida added.

As to the food festival, which is one of the annual main attractions on the side of the parades, the IFFI chief said that they are exploring options in partnership with the Iloilo Hotels, Restaurants & Resorts Association (IHRRA) and Kaon Ta Iloilo (KTI).

Ideas under consideration are special meal packages which can be delivered to homes.

“Our food fest will not be going away too, because we are exploring together with IHRRA and KTI, which we can have Special Dinagyang Delivery to our people. They can prepare Dinagyang Special Meals and packages which can be brought to their homes. We are watching Dinagyang while enjoying our Inasal at home,” he said.

Peñaflorida said that the IFFI, through Prof. Eric Divinagracia, is still taking suggestions to improve the celebrations despite the pandemic.