By Mariela Angella Oladive
Seven vibrant light festivals will illuminate Iloilo City during the Dinagyang ILOmination event on Friday, January 24. The festivities will take place along Atria, SM City Iloilo, and Iloilo Business Park in the Mandurriao district.
The event will feature five competing festivals and two guest performances:
Competing Festivals:
- Pandang Gitab Festival – Oriental Mindoro
- Pavvurulun Afi Festival – Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
- Tanglawan Festival – San Jose del Monte, Bulacan
- Hermosa Festival – Zamboanga City
- Bailes de Luces Festival – La Castellana, Negros Occidental
Guest Performances:
- Banaag Festival – Anilao, Iloilo
- Tribu Sidlangan – Last year’s ILOmination champion
Elvert Bañares, Director for Arts and Culture Initiatives of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), shared that Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas personally invited the participating festivals, which have all confirmed their attendance.
“This event is more than just a competition. We want this cultural exchange to be sustained and become more meaningful. Let them come here to enjoy our food, see our culture, and meet the beautiful people of Iloilo,” Bañares said.
This year’s event will be judged by a panel led by Dir. Chris Millado, a multi-awarded theater director, arts advocate, and former Artistic Director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The grand prize winner will take home PHP 500,000.
Launched in 2023 as a post-pandemic initiative, ILOmination represents hope and renewal. This year’s expanded festival highlights faith, culture, arts, and creativity, with IFFI aiming to attract even more participants in the future.
Street Dance and Traffic Plans
In line with the ILOmination Street Dance Competition and Floats Parade of Lights, three designated street dance areas will host the performances:
- Area 1: Start at Stronghold, end at Diversion Road
- Area 2: Start at Zuri Hotel, end at Taft North
- Area 3: Start at McDonald’s Megaworld, end before Richmonde Hotel
The Iloilo City Traffic and Transportation Management Office has announced a traffic scheme to manage road closures in Mandurriao during the event:
Road Closures:
- Donato Pison Avenue: From corner Pacensia Tiham St. to Benigno Aquino Avenue
- Benigno Aquino Avenue: Left side, from Donato Pison Avenue to Taft North
- Taft St. (Taft North): From Benigno Aquino Avenue to Megaworld Boulevard/Q. Abeto St.
- Megaworld Boulevard: From Spur Road to Marriott Hotel
One-Way Streets:
- Spur Road: From Mandurriao High School to Carlos Bakeshop, B. Aquino Avenue
- Jalandoni St.: From E. Lopez/Jalandoni to M. Roco/Boliland, Mandurriao
- Hechanova St.: From Hechanova/Luna St. to Jalandoni Bridge
- Service Road: From Brgy. Calubihan to Jalandoni/Injap, and Gaisano City Center to Toyota/Esplanade
During the festivities, trucks and trailers will not be allowed in the area.
The public is invited to witness this colorful celebration, which showcases unity, culture, and creativity as part of the Dinagyang Festival.
