Iloilo City, TIEZA sign MoA to advance city as a meeting place
Iloilo City was filled with a variety of festivities coming together on the fourth weekend of January, from dance competitions and float parades to street food stalls and mall concerts, which only meant one thing – it was the height of the Dinagyang Festival.
Annual festival, whose name is derived from the Hiligaynon word Daeyang It means “merrymaking”, first introduced in 1967, when a replica of the Señor Santo Niño de Cebu was brought to Iloilo. Its development as a religious and cultural festival reflects the devotion of Ilonggo Catholics to the Child Jesus.
it's 58th This year's edition, with the theme “Buge sang to Jinu, Bugal sang to Maga Ilonggo” (Blessing of the Lord, Pride of the Ilonggos), epitomizes the mentality of the local government as it continues to develop the town for both the Dinagyang Festival and overall tourism.
“Last year, there were more than 150 MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) events held at the Iloilo Convention Center, and we want to maintain and improve those events,” Iloilo City Mayor Raisa S. Treñas told Manila media on January 23.
In 2024, the Department of Tourism recorded approximately 1 million tourist arrivals in Iloilo City. This represents an increase of 12.95% from 886,283 tourist arrivals in 2023.
In late 2023, the city was named the Philippines' first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, which Ms. Treñas cited as a major attraction for visitors.
“Tourists really appreciate Iloilo City not only because of the facilities we have, but also because we are now known for the cuisine,” he said.
In light of this, Iloilo City and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) on Friday signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) allocating P17.6 million over the next five years to develop the city as a MICE destination.
“This partnership is very important for us because, last year, the MICE Center in Iloilo presented me the program of activities for all MICE events, and January was already fully booked,” Ms. Treñas said, pointing to the one-year booking waiting list for TIEZA’s Iloilo Convention Center.
Meanwhile, according to the Iloilo City Police Office, Dinagyang-related events drew an estimated 350,000 visitors on January 25, the last day of the festival.
last weekend
The final weekend of the Dinagyang Festival was bright and sunny, seeing several major events including the Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahnan, a celebration of competing cultural festivals from across the province on January 24; And the Ati Tribal Contest, on January 25, will feature tribal artists in Ati warrior gear presenting the history of Panay.
The Tultugan Festival of Masin, Iloilo, won the Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahnan, showcasing elaborate bamboo set pieces to represent their city. He defeated seven other Iloilo cities to win the P1.2 million cash prize.
The winner of this year's Dinagyang Ati Tribe competition was Tribu Salognon, representing Jaro National High School in Jaro, Iloilo City. Their performance, which had a traditional dance component honoring Señor Santo Niño while also featuring designs inspired by the endangered Maral or Visayan leopard cat, earned him a P1.5 million cash prize.
The winning school also received an additional P10 million in infrastructure projects from the Special Education Fund of the Iloilo City Government.
“Beyond the drums, dance and vibrant colors, Dinagyang plays an important role in the life of our city. It is a powerful engine of tourism and economic activity,” Mayor Treñas said in his speech on January 24.
“Thousands of tourists visit Iloilo every year, filling our hotels, supporting our restaurants, promoting local businesses and creating livelihood opportunities for artists, artisans, vendors, transportation workers and many others,” he said. “Dinagyang is one of the reasons why Iloilo is what it is today.”
In addition to the Dinagyang Festival, the city government also celebrated the MICE partnership as well as TIEZA's help in the redevelopment of public plazas in Molo, La Paz and Jaro.
“Iloilo City is strategically positioned to fulfill its vision of becoming a leading hub for MICE, supported by its advantageous geographical location, extensive direct air connectivity to major Asian destinations, diverse tourism assets and highly skilled service workforce,” TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid said at the signing on January 23.
“We are confident that this collaboration will accelerate the growth of Iloilo’s MICE industry and bring substantial economic benefits to the Ilonggo community.” — Bronte H. Laxmana