A COMPLETE SUCCESS’; Face-to-face Dinagyang exceeded expectations
The special guests were seen enjoying the Ilomination night at SM City Iloilo with Mayor Jerry Treñas, SM’s SVP for Operations Bien Mateo, Talent Manager Jojie Dingcong, Youtube celebrity Small Laude,veteran broadcaster Karen Davila, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, philanthropist and influencer Tessa Prieto, eventologist Tim Yap, Manila Bulletin’s Arnel Patawaran and Chef Rafael Jardeleza Jr.
ILOILO City – With thousands of domestic and foreign
visitors packing various festival activities, Dinagyang’s return to the city’s
streets exceeded expectations, according to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.
A “complete success” was how he described the festival’s return
to a face-to-face celebration after two years of restrictions due to the
coronavirus disease pandemic.
“Everyone wanted a strong comeback…It was a complete
success and this showed that Dinagyang and our Sto. Niño are beyond politics,”
added Treñas.
Dinagyang Festival is known far and wide for its
participants’ impressive choreography and striking costumes that reflect
Ilonggo ingenuity, craftsmanship and artistry.
Treñas congratulated the Iloilo
Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), organizer of Dinagyang 2023, the
participating tribes and corporate sponsors, among others.
“I acknowledge all our sponsors from the private sector
for their significant contributions in the success of Dinagyang. Of course, sa
inyo tanan, mga pinalangga ko nga Ilonggo. Ang tanan nga ini bangud sa inyo kag
para man sa inyo. Your strong support in all our activities played a meaningful
role in the overall success of the festival,” said Treñas.
Conversation over Batchoy with Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, lifestyle columnist and philanthropist Tessa Prieto, TV personality Tim Yap, veteran broadcaster Karen Davila, Manila Bulletin’s Arnel Patawaran and renowned Iloilo Chef, Rafael "Tibong" Jardeleza Jr.
Several dignitaries form foreign embassies attended the
festivities as well: Romanian Ambassador to the Philippines HE Raduta Dana Matache with Mr.
Constantin Matache ; Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines HE Agus Widjojo and his wife, Mme. Ranny Agus Widjojo; Royal Thai
Ambassador to the Philippines HE Tull
Traisorat; Royal Norwegian
Ambassador to the Philippines HE Christian
Halaas Lyster; Hungary Ambassador to
the Philippines HE Titanilla Toth;
Embassy of Polland Ambassador to the Philippines HE Jaroslaw Szczepankiewicz ; Embassy of the Democratic Socialist
Republic of Sri Lanka Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Ms. P.G.P. Kaushalya; Consul General of Japan in Cebu Hideki
Yamaji; and Embassy of the United States in the Philippines Chief Consuls Kristofer Graf and Leo Balantac;
Dinagyang is the Hiligaynon word for revelry or
"merrymaking." The festival is Iloilo City’s version of the
Ati-atihan celebrations widely observed not only in Panay Island but also in
other parts of the country.
Two of the many foreign dignitaries who graced the
festival were full of praises.
(Via Panay News)
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