Pamukaw sets Iloilo City’s Dinagyang spirit alive

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Drumbeats, tribal parades, and street performances by seven competing schools filled the streets of Iloilo City’s main square as the 58th Dinagyang Festival officially kicked off with the annual “pamukaw” on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

The “pamukaw” (“awakening”) is the ritual signaling the start of festivities a month ahead of the January celebrations, with a mass offered to the Santo Niño de Cebu, the festival’s patron, at the San Jose Parish Placer.

After the mass, participating groups in the Dinagyang Tribes Competition (Open Category) gave the public a glimpse of their performances in front of the parish, ahead of the festival highlights set for January 25 next year.

The participating tribes were:

• Tribu Bulawanon sang Molo – Molo District
• Tribu Ilonganon – Jalandoni Memorial National High School
• Tribu Taga Baryo – Bo. Obrero, Lapuz
• Tribu Salognon – Jaro National High School
• Tribu Ilayanhon – Graciano Lopez Jaena Elementary School
• Tribu Pan-ay – Fort San Pedro National High School
• Tribu Paghidaet – La Paz National High School

The street dance and performance was followed by a small parade from the parish, passing through Ortiz Street near the Development Bank of the Philippines, to Muelle Loney Street along the Freedom Grandstand, the Museum of Maritime History, and the Aduana Building, and ending at Iloilo City Hall, which served as the main performance area.

An estimated 3,000 to 5,000 participants joined the Pamukaw, according to the Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center.

Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. president Angel De Leon Jr. said the pamukaw serves as a spiritual preparation for Dinagyang.

“This is meant to awaken our hearts as we draw closer to Señor Sto. Niño. This is a preparation,” De Leon said.

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu described the pamukaw as both a spiritual and communal moment.

“As the first light of day breaks, we gather once more for pamukaw, a sacred moment that not only awakens our city but our hearts,” she said.

She added that before the drumbeats fill the streets, the city pauses to remember that Dinagyang is, above all, an offering of faith.

Citing this year’s theme, “Bugay sang Ginoo, Bugal sang mga Ilonggo” (Blessings of the Lord, Pride of the Ilonggos), the mayor said Dinagyang reflects the Ilonggos’ gratitude, unity, culture, and devotion.

“The pamukaw reminds us that Ilonggo pride is rooted in gratitude, and our joy flows from devotion,” Treñas-Chu said.

The pamukaw coincided with the first day of Misa de Gallo, marking the start of the nine-day series of dawn masses leading to Christmas Eve.