Dinagyang festival finds its way to USA

The Tribu Pan-ay of Iloilo performs during the Aliwan Fiesta 2011 in Manila. The group bagged the grand prize. INQUIRER/Arnold Almacen

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—The famed drumbeats and dancing of Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival will hit the streets of New York and Washington, D.C. for the first time during festivities marking the 113th anniversary of the Philippine Independence Day.

A 38-member delegation including 26 Dinagyang troupe dancers will be among the performers in Sunday’s street activities organized by the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. on New York City’s Madison Avenue.

Ben Jimena, Iloilo City tourism officer, told the Inquirer that the delegation, led by Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, will also perform in Washington, D.C. on June 12 in an event to be hosted by the Filipino community and the Philippine Embassy.

The Tribu Pan-ay, which won the Ati-Atihan tribe contest in this year’s Dinagyang festival, will be the main performers during the festivities after the traditional parade of the Filipino community on Madison Avenue.

Photo by Arnold Almacen/INQUIRER

Vice President Jejomar Binay and other guests are expected to attend the celebrations.

The commemoration of Philippine Independence Day in New York, now in its 22nd year, is considered the largest celebration of Philippine Independence outside of the country for the last 17 years, according to council.

Last year, around 70,000 participants and onlookers joined the celebration.

The Iloilo delegation’ s travel expenses will be shouldered by the city government, Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. and private sponsors while the accommodation and other expenses in the US will be taken care of by the Independence Day council.

The Dinagyang Festival was elevated to the Hall of Fame by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines in 2009 after winning the country”s best tourism event award for three consecutive years.

Jimena said the tribal performers will bring portable props, which are among the trademarks of the Dinagyang festival.

He said he hoped the first-ever performances of the Dinagyang troupe in the United States would encourage more visitors and investors to Iloilo.

Photo by Arnold Almacen/INQUIRER