Dinagyang retains Aliwan crown

CEBU, Philippines - Iloilo City’s premier celebration, the Dinagyang Festival, defended its championship title yet again in the Aliwan Festival.

The Dinagyang was also named grandslam champion for winning the crown for three consecutive years starting in 2010.

Dinagyang won a three-peat and took home the most-coveted P1M cash prize in the Grand Festival of Champions that unfurled from the Quirino Grandstand, Roxas Boulevard and Aliw Theater at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex last April 14.

This year, the Dinagyang Festival was represented by Tribu Pan-ay of the Iloilo Fort San Pedro National High School. The group’s performance was inspired to protect the environment and the endangered species, the Philippine Eagle.

Dinagyang’s champ Tribu Pan-ay triumphed in a back-to-back win. Tribu Paghidaet of La Paz National High School won the Aliwan title in 2010.

Iloilo Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is elated with the victory, which he said makes every Ilonggo proud. Even the Ilonggos in Manila supported the delegation during its performances there.

Collective efforts have paid off when Dinagyang emerged on top. The “eagles” have soared high in refining and enhancing its repertoire for the big challenge, said City Tourism Officer Ben Jimena.

The festival’s success is attributed to an operational public-private partnership between the City Government, Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. (IDFI) and San Jose Parish which totally integrated and mobilized the community, he stressed.

Other keys to success are relevance to cultural and religious traditions, professionalized events management, effective marketing and creative and innovative activities, Jimena said.

Other winners of this year’s Aliwan Festival are the Buyogan Festival of Abuyog Leyte, 1st runner-up; Lingganay Festival of Alangalang Leyte, 2nd runner-up; T'nalak Festival of South Cotabato, 3rd runner-up; and Lembuhong Festival of Surallah, South Cotabato, 4th runner-up.

The other runners-up are the Mamang-os at Kambingan Festival of Tuy, Batangas; Kalivungan Festival of Alamada Cotabato; Hermosa Festival of Zamboanga City; Pandang-Gitab Festival of Oriental Mindoro; and Salakayan Festival of Miagao, Iloilo. –