Dinagyang 2027 brings back City Proper judging, banderitas

ILOILO CITY — The heart of Iloilo City will once again take center stage in Dinagyang 2027 as organizers introduce major changes, including the return of all judging areas to the City Proper district, the return of festival banderitas, and an expanded tribes competition.

Themed “Kasanag ni Señor Santo Niño, padulong sa bwas damlag sang mga Ilonggo,” the festival highlights are scheduled for Jan. 22-24, 2027.

The Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) on Friday, Oct. 2, confirmed five judging areas: the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand, the Iloilo Provincial Capitol, the corner of Quezon and Ledesma streets, the corner of Mabini and De Leon streets near the Iloilo Terminal Market, and Iznart Street near the Iloilo Central Market.

The new judging areas depart from the 2026 setup, when performances and judging extended to the Iloilo Sports Complex.

In 2026, judging was held at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand, the corner of Luna and Huervana streets in La Paz district, and the Iloilo Sports Complex, which seats up to 7,000 people.

The Sports Complex drew mixed reviews from festivalgoers over the viewing experience and its distance from the City Proper.

IFFI President Dr. Ronald Latap said concentrating the activities in the City Proper would help reduce traffic and address security concerns.

“We are innovating other things to accommodate more spectators; that is why we considered the Iloilo Sports Complex. But we found out that it has so many negative effects like the traffic and logistics … I think that is the lesson that we have learned from the past,” he said in a press briefing.

“Also for security. This time, the security will just focus on the City Proper. We will no longer have a spread in our security forces,” he added.

Dinagyang tribes competition

Ten tribes will participate in the Dinagyang Tribes Competition, with nine competing for the championship and the Binirayan Festival of Antique returning as a non-competing contingent.

The competing tribes are Tribu Pan-ay of Fort San Pedro National High School; Tribu Villahanon of Ramon Avanceña National High School; Tribu Paghidaet of La Paz National High School; Tribu Salognon of Jaro National High School; Tribu Bola-Bola of Iloilo National High School; Tribu Ilonganon of Jalandoni Memorial National High School; Tribu Silak of Iloilo City National High School; Tribu Taga-Baryo of Barangay Bo. Obrero, Lapuz; and Tribu Hugyaw of Iloilo River Plains Integrated School.

Tribu Bola-Bola will return after a 17-year hiatus, while Tribu Villahanon will return after a two-year pause.

Tribu Hugyaw is a newcomer to the competition.

The lineup expands the field from the seven tribes that competed in 2026.

Latap said that after discussions with Antique Gov. Paolo Javier, the Binirayan Festival contingent will perform as a non-competing team because its performance does not fit the competition’s warrior theme.

“They will not look like warriors, but he (Javier) will just test the waters this 2027, and he can make modifications if they want to return as a competing tribe next year. He said their theme is not warriors, so that is out of the theme of the Dinagyang. They prefer to showcase the Binirayan Festival,” Latap said.

Banderitas, more activities return

Latap also announced the return of festival banderitas following criticism the IFFI received over their removal during last year’s celebration.

The IFFI had scrapped the pennants in January 2026, citing safety issues, environmental concerns, and a cleaner look for photos and videos, noting that most banderitas are made of single-use plastic.

However, the decorations will be installed only in selected areas.

“The banderitas, sometimes it is out of our control because the sponsor, they don’t manufacture single-use plastics anymore. But this year, we encouraged them to have some banderitas but indigenous materials or made of paper or biodegradable,” Latap said.

Banderitas will be installed along portions of General Luna, Quezon, and Ledesma streets.

Not all streets will have banderitas, particularly JM Basa Street.

Instead, the IFFI will introduce lanterns made from indigenous materials in some areas.

The initial calendar of events includes the Dinagyang 100-day countdown on Oct. 24, Pamuklaw on Dec. 16, and the opening salvo of the Dinagyang Tribes Competition on Jan. 8, 2027.

IFFI Executive Director Joyce Clavecillas said the ILOmination Parade and Sponsors Mardi Gras will also be transformed into community-based events involving universities and other institutions.

She said the ILOmination will no longer be a performance but a parade.

“It will be a big street light parade that will light up Iloilo City,” Clavecillas said.

“The theme will be festivals and legacies. We also want to feature the Chinese New Year of Iloilo City, Sinamba sa Regatta, among others. Legacies because we are talking about our institutions here, the universities, hospitals that are here for so long. It will be a great addition to have them,” she said.

The Sponsors Mardi Gras will start at 4 p.m., followed by the ILOmination Parade at 6 p.m.

A stage will remain in front of SM City Iloilo, although participating teams will no longer be required to stop there to perform.

The Drum and Lyre Competition will also return on the morning of Jan. 23, before the Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan.

The Sadsad sa Calle Real will feature district-based participation by the tribes in collaboration with the Liga ng mga Barangay.

For the religious activities, a fluvial procession and a solemn foot procession are scheduled on Jan. 22, followed by the Grand Religious Sadsad on Jan. 23.

The IFFI also said it will not recommend signal jamming during the 2027 Dinagyang Festival, citing the benefits of maintaining network connectivity for spectators and businesses during the festivities.