Kasadyahan, Dinagyang opening salvo set Jan. 10–11

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Dinagyang Festival’s two major cultural events will open next week with back-to-back salvos from Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan and the Dinagyang Tribes Competition on Jan. 10 and 11.

These performances will be staged at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand and Iloilo Sports Complex, which also serve as the final competition venues.

The opening program at the Freedom Grandstand will begin at 1 p.m., while activities at the sports complex start at 3 p.m.

Eight municipalities will compete in this year’s Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan: New Lucena (Jimanban Festival), Santa Barbara (Kahilwayan Festival), Miag-ao (Salakayan Festival), Bingawan (Pagnahi-an Festival), Maasin (Tultugan Festival), Banate (Kasag Festival), San Rafael (Tawili Festival), and Anilao (Banaag Festival).

Maasin’s Tultugan Festival is a two-time Kasadyahan champion and the reigning winner of the Festival Performance Competition during the 127th Philippine Independence Day celebration in June 2025.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said the provincial government allocated PHP 2 million to each participating town to support their preparations.

“What is unique is that it will be different, and I can say it will be more competitive because they know Maasin and its Tultugan Festival has elevated the standards, especially since they are a national champion,” he said.

“I think that is the challenge right now. It is good that they are competitive because that means our standards are getting high. We can only go up,” the governor added.

Seven tribes will compete in this year’s Dinagyang Tribes Competition: Tribu Bulawanon sang Molo, Tribu Taga-Baryo, Tribu Pan-ay, Tribu Paghidaet, Tribu Ilayanhon, Tribu Salognon, and Tribu Ilonganon.

Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan’s main competition will take place on Jan. 24, followed by the Dinagyang Tribes Competition on Jan. 25.

The Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. has also released the final schedule of events for the month-long Dinagyang Festival:

• 10–25– Dinagyang side events and sports activities
• 16–25– Novena Masses
• 17– Miss Iloilo 2026 Coronation Night, WVSU Cultural Center, 7 p.m.
• 22–25– Dinagyang Food Festival, downtown Iloilo
• 23– Fluvial Procession & Solemn Foot Procession (Muelle Loney to San Jose Parish, 1 p.m.); Dinagyang Ilumination Streetdance Competition & Floats Parade of Lights at SM City Iloilo (6 p.m.) and Iloilo Business Park (7 p.m.)
• 24– Dinagyang Pet Parade (Bonifacio Drive, 6 a.m.); Sponsors’ Mardi Gras (Freedom Grandstand, 8 a.m.); Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan (Freedom Grandstand, 1 p.m.; Sports Complex, 3 p.m.); Grand Religious Sadsad (San Jose Parish, 7 p.m.)
• 25– Concelebrated High Mass, Feast Day of Señor Santo Niño de Cebu (San Jose Parish, 6 a.m.); Dinagyang Tribes Competition (Freedom Grandstand, 8 a.m.; Sports Complex, 10 a.m.); Sadsad sa Calle Real (3 p.m.); Dinagyang Awarding Ceremony (Sports Complex, 7 p.m.)