Dinagyang Digital 2021 sets new trend for PHL festivals

Dinagyang is indeed the trendsetter in Philippine tourism.

Why?

Pre-filmed and canned dance performances could be the future of cultural festivals in the Philippines.

And while other cities and provinces are still coming up with new ways to hold their festivals, Dinagyang is a step ahead as the world-class festival transforms into a virtual spectacle in the first-ever Dinagyang Digital 2021.

In fact, the Dinagyang Festival has been cited by authorities in Cebu City as the basis of their recommendation for pre-filmed performances of the Sinulog Festival.

Based on a published report of Cebu Daily News, Councilor Joel Garganera, the deputy chief implementor of the EOC, suggested pre-filmed performances highlighting the Dinagyang Festival.

 

“They did it in Dinagyang, why can’t we? We always have to take the side of caution. A live grand parade would be risky,” said Garganera in the report.

 

National authorities even prohibited Sinulog organizers from holding live performances as these could become super spreaders of COVID-19.

Rommel Flogen, president of Ilonggo Artists Festival Association (IAFA), said Dinagyang Festival this year could be the trendsetter of festivals not only in the region but in the entire country.

 

“This is a trend, kita ang mngin trendsetter in terms of festival. In the couple of months makibot kita the Manggahan Festival is being filmed and the rest of the festivals. This could be a trendsetter sang iban nga festival, even big festivals outside Iloilo,” he said during a press conference last week.

 

With the uncertainty of the vaccines, Flogen there is a possibility that the holding of Dinagyang virtually will continue even in the coming years.

 

“Wala ta kabalo, may vaccine ta man or wala, I think we would still do a pre-filmed competition,” he added.

 

Since last year, organizers of Dinagyang Festival have laid down plans on how to do away with street performances as to not attract crowds amid the threats of COVID-19.

Despite the decrease of COVID-19 cases in Iloilo City, Atty. Jobert Peñaflorida, President of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI) said they decided to go digital to balance the health and the economy of the city.

From the usual street dances and live performances with massive crowds, Dinagyang Digital 2021 will go all-digital utilizing online and other platforms without sacrificing the health and safety of the people.

IFFI selected seven tribes that will perform on a district-based canned presentation during the virtual Dinagyang 2021.

Organizers of Dinagyang Festival also trimmed the number of Dinagyang warriors to 30 per tribe to ensure that physical distancing and protocols will be followed.

According to Flogen, warriors who qualified in auditions were isolated for 20 days for the practice of the performances.

All of the warriors including the technical crew were subjected to real-time polymerase chain reaction test (RT-PCR) before they were isolated and before they were re-integrated to their families after the taping of the performances.

 

“Nag-audition sila, after amo na ginpaswab kag ginpastay-in sa school kag we made sure na we follow protocols nga ginset sang national government,” he said.

 

The festival will proceed with the theme: “One Dinagyang – One Iloilo – Halad Kay Señor Sto. Niño”. It will be uniting the once-competing choreographers of the Dinagyang tribes for the sake of delivering a world-class performance under the new normal.

 

“Pila ka years kami gakontrohanay wala kami gasapakanay subong daw indi ko magpati na ululupod kami tulog, ululupod ubra kag ginalantaw namon ubra sang isa kag isa. Daw indi kami magpati nga maabot kami sa amo ni nga punto during the pandemic. At least naexperience namon bag-o naman kay film na,” Flogen furthered.

 

The highlight of the Dinagyang Digital 2021 will be on January 24. The virtual presentation which will be hosted by Ilongga beauty queen and Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo and GMA Artist Rocco Nacino. It will begin with a virtual Dinagyang mass at 7AM and the virtual performances of Dinagyang tribes at 8AM to 10AM. (ERS)