By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan
Patrons and newcomers can look forward to a vibrant showcase of flair and faith during the 57th Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City’s annual celebration in honor of Señor Santo Niño (Little Child Jesus), set for the fourth week of January.
The main events, Kasadyahan and Dinagyang, will take over the City Proper streets on Jan. 25 and 26, respectively.
The Dinagyang program will feature two key competitions: the Dagyang Tribes Competition and Sadsad sa Calle Real, showcasing eight and six tribes, respectively.
The Dagyang Tribes Competition will include a mix of five school-based and three barangay-based tribes. Tribu Pan-ay of Fort San Pedro National High School will defend its title against contenders Tribu Paghidaet (La Paz NHS), Tribu Salognon (Jaro NHS), Tribu Ilonganon (Jalandoni Memorial NHS), Tribu Hangaway (Graciano Lopez Jaena ES), Tribu Pag-asa and Tribu Molave (Mandurriao), and Tribu Parianon (Molo).
Meanwhile, the Sadsad sa Calle Real will highlight six barangay-based tribes, bringing colorful and energetic performances to Iloilo City’s streets.
Exciting Lineup of Events
Other festival highlights include a marathon race, the Dinagyang Criterium Race on Jan. 11 and 12, and the Miss Iloilo 2025 pageant.
The popular Calle Real Night Market, launched by the Iloilo City MICE Center last October, will merge with the Dinagyang Food Festival, which begins on Jan. 23.
This marks the third face-to-face Dinagyang Festival since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in 2022, signaling a continued return to traditional celebrations.
Boosting Tourism and Gastronomy
Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI) Executive Director Joyce Ann Clavecillas expressed high expectations for this year’s festival, citing a potential increase in crowd numbers and fully booked hotels similar to pre-pandemic years.
“Old-timer and newcomer restaurants are gearing up for the influx of guests. Visitors are looking forward to tasting Iloilo City’s delicacies and dishes, from La Paz Batchoy and Pancit Molo to our wide array of culinary offerings,” Clavecillas said during an interview on Daily Guardian on Air.
She also noted that tour operators are promoting food crawls, giving visitors opportunities to sample Iloilo’s gastronomic specialties through curated tours.
Early Excitement Builds
Clavecillas highlighted the enthusiastic response to the Pamukaw activity held on Dec. 15, where competing tribes showcased previews of their Dagyang performances.
“As we’ve seen during Pamukaw, the public is already very excited about the performances. Crowd favorites have emerged, and the buzz on social media shows how much anticipation there is for January,” she said.
The 2025 Dinagyang Festival is poised to continue its legacy of blending cultural heritage, faith, and celebration while promoting Iloilo City as a culinary and tourism destination.
