The country’s best tourism event is getting bigger each year with close to 50 events now in the list of activities of the 2011 Dinagyang Festival, according to city tourism and development officer (CTDO) Benito Jimena.
The 43rd year of the festival marked another paradigm shift as it moves to become a vehicle in the promotion of environ-mental protection.
Jimena, who was the guest during the recent presentation of the Little Miss Dinagyang candidates in their newspaper gowns, emphasized that this year’s celebration strikes on the need to protect the environment in line with the thrust of the city to become a livable community.
The use of recycled materials, such as with the case of newspaper gowns, is one manifestation of Dinagyang becoming a "green" festival.
Making an impact to the festival is the launching of e-jeepneys on Jan 23. Ten e-jeepneys will usher the start of the Ati competition starting off with a parade from the San Jose Parish church towards the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand carrying the city government’s important festival guests.
Other events that have already kicked off are the dressing up Dagoy, which is the official mascot of the Dinagyang, Model Ati Warrior, Dance Showdown and preliminaries of the Miss Dinagyang search.
Other events slated to take off are Golf Tournament, Ilonggo Arts Festival, Photo Exhibits and Contest, Airsoft Competition, Moto Cross and Moto Circuit, Luces in the Sky, Food Festival, Tambor Trumpa, Martsa, Musika, Sto Nino Fluvial Procession, Sponsors Mardi Gras, Kasadyahan and Ati Competitions, daily masses for tribes, Swimfest, Religious Sadsad, medical and dental mission, feeding program, International Dinagyang 5K and 30K Duathlon, among others.
The festival has consistently been adjudged as the Best Tourism Event of the Philippines now in the Hall of Fame by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) leading to this year’s tagline of ‘Iloilo’s Finest, Nation’s Best.’
This year’s theme is "Senor Sto Nino: Source of Our Unity, Bond of Our Family."
Tight Security Measures
The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has drawn up tight security measures for this year’s Dinagyang Festival, especially during the three-day highlights slated Jan 21-23.
C/Inspt. Uldarico Garbanzos of the ICPO’s operation section presented before Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog that close to 5,000 security personnel to include organic members of the Philippine National Police, from the ICPO; augmentation from the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) and the Police Regional Office 6, Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC), National Service Training Program, barangay peace keeping action teams, among others will be deployed during the festivity.
They will be assigned in nine sectors that will cover the four judging areas, SM City, Riverside Boardwalk likewise in perimeter areas where several events are also being held.
They will also establish tourist assistance and medical evacuation areas in time of emergencies. They will also be complemented by K-9 dogs from the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Air Force. (PNA) /MP
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