USA leads Dinagyang monument inauguration

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

The University of San Agustin (USA), the first university in Western Visayas, led the public unveiling of the city’s future Dinagyang Monument on April 2, 2022 at the Iloilo River Esplanade 4.

The event was graced by officials and representatives from USA, the Zonta Club of Iloilo, and the Iloilo City government.

Architect Adonis Canonicato explained the monument’s design concept composed of three “tableaus” depicting the giving of the image of the Señor Sto. Niño de Cebu in 1521, the rediscovery of the Sto. Niño image in 1565, and the birth of the Dinagyang Festival in 1968.

Canonicato’s design won the monument design competition, which was also spearheaded by the university in partnership with the Zonta Club of Iloilo.

Prior to his entry to the contest, Canonicato practiced his profession overseas for 22 years, particularly in Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

His winning the 2021 Dinagyang landmark competition also inspired him to create the concept for the monument.

“My influences on my projects are mostly my knowledge [combined with] my talents in the arts. The recent local art design contest that I joined was also a Dinagyang-related competition in Iloilo organized by the city. These had challenged me to create a concept of what I believe could express how Dinagyang came into being through the introduction of Christianity in our country,” he added.

USA President Fr. Frederick Comendador said that the monument is envisioned to honor and celebrate the world-class festival that the city has produced through the years by telling its story.

Comendador explained that USA’s investment in the monument was due to the fact that the first missionaries in the country were Augustinian friars.

He also cited that former San Jose parish priest, Rev. Fr. Ambrosio Galindez, who brought the image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu to Iloilo that led to the birth of Dinagyang festival, was an Augustinian friar and a former president of the university.

Comendador narrated that the idea for the monument took root in September 2020 when Amelita Lazarraga and Ruth Jarantilla of the Zonta Club of Iloilo met him in his office to discuss a nativity scene in one of the city’s plazas.

“We hope that more people will be joining the bandwagon so as to make this important legacy, that will benefit the whole city, a reality. The monument is envisioned not only to add to the different attractions that Iloilo City is now known for, but also to give an accurate historical depiction of how the festival came about, and how the feast of the Sto. Niño came to be celebrated,” said Comendador.

“While the festival is secular in nature, it cannot be denied that it has religious roots, and the religious dimension cannot be forgotten and set aside. […] This monument is important to us as it showcases the various positive contributions that the first missionaries made to the development of our nation as a country,” he added.

Iloilo City lone district Representative Julienne Baronda, a USA alumnus, said that the monument was a concerted effort of public and private entities, sharing the same dream and values and advancing the festival’s spirit.

She thanked Comendador, Lazarraga, Jarantilla, and Joe Marie Agriam of the Friends of Saint Augustine for conceptualizing the monument.

“Our Dinagyang festival is an important religious, social, cultural, and economic event in our city. It speaks of who we are: firm believers of God the father, devotees of Señor Sto. Niño, as well as our hospitable, creative, and peace-loving people who are mindful of our history and traditions,” Baronda said.

“As Dinagyang stands for so many admirable and aspiring attributes, immortalizing what the festival represents through the planned art installation is both apt and significant. Through this, may we always be conscious that upholding our customs and aiming for progress can go hand in hand. May this Dinagyang monument enhance our appreciation of our unique tangible and intangible heritage, boost our tourism sector, and strengthen our faith in the Lord almighty and our trust in one another,” she added.

The monument will be built on the Esplanade 4 and is estimated to cost up to P35 million.