By: Emme Rose Santiagudo
For the first time, stage access or tickets to Dinagyang 360 or the Ati tribes’ dance competition of Dinagyang 2020 can be availed through selected hotels in the city, according to the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI).
IFFI President Jobert Peñaflorida said they tapped hotels which were recommended and chosen by the IFFI Stage Committee headed by IFFI Trustee Allan Ryan Tan.
“Mr. Tan is a key member of the Iloilo Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) Alliance, (a group of public and private stakeholders from the hotels, restaurants, and other agencies in the city which aims to position Iloilo City as a premiere MICE destination). Hence, the hotels are part of the tourism alliance,” he said on Sunday.
Since December 18, 2019, stage access for the Dinagyang 360 were released to the following hotels: Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo (Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao); GT Hotel, Iloilo (Majestic Building, De Leon Street, City Proper, Iloilo City); Hotel Del Rio (M.H. Del Pilar Street, Molo, Iloilo City); Park Inn by Radisson (SM City Iloilo, Mandurriao, Iloilo City); Richmonde Hotel Iloilo (Megaworld, Mandurriao, Iloilo City); and Seda Atria (Donato Pison Avenue, Mandurriao, Iloilo City).
Apart from the above-mentioned hotels, IFFI is also issuing tickets or stage access through the Association of Iloilo Accredited Department of Tourism (DOT) Travel and Tour Operators particularly Aidato Ticketing Office (TMX at Atria Smallville beside Al Dente Restaurant).
Peñaflorida said those who wish to watch the Dinagyang360 can avail of the stage access through the above-mentioned hotels and agencies on a first come, first served basis.
There will be no special privileges for guests who will check-in in the said hotels unless required or requested by the IFFI, he added.
As a non-stock, non-profit foundation, Peñaflorida said they chose to issue access pass to sponsors of Dinagyang 360 Tribes Competition starting at bronze (P1,800), silver (P2,000) and gold (P2,200).
Due to the limited seats and stages, total passes released by the IFFI only totaled to less than 4,000 tickets.
“We released less than 4,000 tickets as we need to reserve a few seats for judges, tabulators and guests,” he said.
The IFFI reduced the number of judging areas to four – Freedom Grandstand, Valeria Street-Ledesma Street, Maria Clara and Solis-Iznart Street – to shorten the travel time of the competing tribes and avoid traffic.
IFFI said the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand (center, left and right wing extensions) and Solis stage are assigned to and managed exclusively by the Iloilo City Government and the Iloilo Provincial Government, respectively.
Peñaflorida said IFFI also printed VIP passes for these stages which were endorsed to the Offices of the City Mayor and Governor, respectively.
“It is our understanding that VIP passes are not for sale,” he said.
Everyone is excited with the staging of Dinagyang 2020 next year as IFFI introduced new events to look out for.
The Dinagyang 360 Tribes Competition, which happens on January 26, 2020, is the highlight of the festival where the tribe competition will be upgraded into a 360-degree performance with tribes performing in an arena type sequence and judges will be seated in different areas.
Another new event is the first ever, “Dagyang sa Calle Real” which will be staged on January 25, 2020 at will bring back the usual merrymaking practice or “Dagyang” where visitors and guests can join the barangay tribes.
The “Dagyang sa Calle Real” replaced the Kasadyahan Festival.
New organizer of the much-anticipated Dinagyang 2020 promised the spectators with a levelled-up staging of the festival.
The Opening Salvo of Iloilo Dinagyang 2020 is set on January 10, 2020 where there will be performances of the eight competing tribes for Dinagyang 360, joined by the come backing barangay tribes participating for “Dagyang sa Calle Real” and the 11 Ilongga beauties vying for the Miss Iloilo 2020 crown.
Other new events include Iloilo Dinagyang Arts Festival 2019 from January 18-25, 2020; Miss Iloilo 2020 on January 23, 2020, and Ilonggo Food Festival on January 23-26, 2020.
Meanwhile, the annual Tambor Trumpa Martsa Musika is scheduled on January 24, 2020; Fluvial and Solemn Foot Procession on January 24, 2020 at 3 p.m.; Floats Parade of Lights on January 24, 2020 at 6 p.m.; Festive Parade Sponsors Mardi Gras on January 25, 2020 at 2 p.m.; and Religious Sadsad and Fireworks Display on January 25, 2020 at 7 p.m.
