January is a time for many festivals that give honor to the Santo Nino. One of the most anticipated by many is the Dinagyang Festival, which happens in Iloilo City.
The Dinagyang is both a religious and a cultural festival and it’s held on the fourth Sunday of January, a week after the Sinulog in Cebu and the Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan.
Apart from giving honor to the Santo Niño, the Ilonggos also do the festival to celebrate the arrival on Panay of Malay settlers and the subsequent selling of the island to them by the Atis.
Dinagyang means revelry or merrymaking in Ilonggo. It was coined in 1977 by Ilonggo broadcaster Pacifico Sudario to describe the riotous celebration.
If you’re going to Dinagyang Festival 2016, then expect impressive choreography as always from the various groups who will participate in the street dancing competitions. Below is the festival schedule for this year.
January 22
8AM: TAMBOR TRUMPA MARTSA MUSIKA – Bonifacio Drive to Freedom Grandstand
3PM: SALVO OF A THOUSAND DRUMS – Arroyo Fountain Area
3PM: FLUVIAL PROCESSION – Fort San Pedro to Iloilo Customs House to San Jose Parish Church
7PM: LUCES IN THE SKY – SM City Parking Lot
January 23
7AM: MASS FOR KASADYAHAN CONTESTANTS – San Jose Paris Church
8AM: KASADYAHAN CULTURAL COMPETITION – City Parade Route – Circuit Eight
2PM: SPONSORS MARDI GRAS – Parade from Freedom Grandstand
7PM: RELIGIOUS SADSAD – San Jose Parish Church
January 24
6AM: CONCELEBRATED HIGH MASS – San Jose Paris Church
8AM: 2016 ILOILO DINAGYANG ATI CONTEST – City Parade Route
5PM: AWARDING CEREMONY – Freedom Grandstand
See you in Iloilo City!