Parade of Lights now a regular Dinagyang event

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

THE Parade of Lights is now a regular special event of the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival.

According to Atty. Jobert Peñaflorida, committee on parade of lights chair, the success of the glittering parade featuring floats mounted on a motorized vehicle was overwhelming that the committee decided to make it a fixture of the yearly festival.

Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) president Ramon Cua Locsin earlier said that the special event turned out to be very successful when it was held for the first time in the 50^th Dinagyang Festival in 2018.

This year, the IDFI and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCI)-Iloilo Chapter are encouraging business corporations and companies, local government units (including barangays), schools, civic clubs and associations, civil society organizations, fraternities and sororities to participate in the Dinagyang Float Parade of Lights on January 26, 2019 from 7 p.m. to midnight.

The Parade of Lights showcases magnificently decorated floats with themes anchored on the specific Dinagyang theme.

Based on the guidelines for this year’s Parade of Light, the float should be mounted on a motorized vehicle and elaborately decorated with lights and a tableau or a group of people, motionless figures or animated designs which depict the corporate vision, mission or advocacy in line with the theme “Connecting Communities Thru Culture and Faith”.

Decorations may be made from paper, wood, flowers, or a variety of other indigenous materials and lights.

In addition, a company mascot may either lead the parade or be in the float alongside 20-30 performers who may accompany the float to add color and fun to the parade.

The participating group’s name and logo together with the logo of the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival must also be prominently displayed.

In terms of the minimum height, small floats should have the following measurements: 5 feet (height) x 5 feet (width) x 12 feet (length) while big floats should measure 10 ft. x 10 ft. x 20 ft.

For the maximum height, small floats should measure 8 ft. x 8 ft. x 15 ft. while big floats should measure 12 ft. x 12 ft. x 40 ft.

The best float, first, and second runners-up which will each receive P250,000, P200,000, and P150,000 cash prizes, respectively, during the awarding ceremonies on Jan 27.

Just like last year, the parade be happen on Benigno Aquino Avenue up to a designated area for the static display of floats where they must remain until midnight.