Steel stages for Dinagyang 2020

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

Makeshift stages made of wood will no longer be allowed in the performance areas of Dinagyang Festival 2020.

This time, stages for the Dinagyang Tribes Dance Competition will all be made of steel.

According to Alan Tan chairman of the Committee on Stages and Tickets, steel stages will ensure the safety of Dinagyang spectators.

“This 2020, ang aton actual stage will be made of steel. We informed the contractor to use steel to ensure safety,” he said in a press conference on Wednesday at the Iloilo City Hall.

Compared to the old stages that were usually made of wood and even bamboo, Tan said the steel stages will also save time in installation since these are already pre-fabricated.

“We can detach it since it is pre-fabricated and lesser ang ma-entail na traffic. We are closely coordinating with Public Safety and Transport Management Office (PSTMO),” he added.

Tan also announced that they have trimmed down the route and the stages for the competing tribes.

Tribes will now perform in four judging areas instead of five.

The new four judging areas are the following: Freedom Grandstand, Valeria Street-Ledesma Street, Maria Clara, Solis-Iznart Street.

Before, the two judging areas were at the Quezon Street and at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol but Tan said they agreed during consultation that they will shorten the travel time of the competing tribes and avoid traffic.

Despite trimming down the number of stages, Tan said the total seating capacity in all four areas will be 3,600 seats.

“With this location, mas madamo ang seating maskin nagdyutay aton stage kag gin-consider ang traffic nga tiyog sang tribe. Gin-shorten namon ang amon ruta,” he said.

Dinagyang Festival’s new organizer, Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) has promised to level up Dinagyang 2020.

Competing tribes will perform in a 360-degrees manner instead of the usual theater type performance.

Eight tribes will compete in the Tribes Dance Competition in January 2020 – Tribu Barriohanon of Bo. Obrero National High School (NHS); Tribu Binhi of Melchor L. Nava NHS; Tribu Dagatnon of Ramon Avanceña Memorial NHS; Tribu Hugponganon of Tiu Cho Teg-Ana Ros Foundation Integrated School; Tribu Ilonganon of Jalandoni NHS; Tribu Paghidaet of La Paz NHS; Tribu Panayanon of Iloilo City NHS; and Tribu Salognon of Jaro NHS.