Villar cites Dinagyang Festival

Senate President Manny Villar expressed pride in the outstanding showcase of talent and ingenuity by his kasimanwas in the Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo's renowned colorful cultural and religious celebration.

Villar, who hails from Iloilo, is one of the guests of honor at the festival.

Dinagyang is observed every fourth weekend of January in honor of Señor Sto. Niño. The theme of this year's festivity, slated on Jan. 25 to 27, is "One heart, one mind for Senor Sto. Nino."

Villar said, "I am truly proud of the innate and distinct creativity and values cultivated by my kasimanwas as displayed in the prestigious Dinagyang Festival."

"This year's celebration marks another milestone in Iloilo's rich history of preserving and enriching its heritage and culture, and faith deepened by a celebration of thanksgiving," the Nacionalista Party president said.

Dinagyang activities include tribal dance presentations, street dancing, fluvial parade, games, food festival and concerts.

The 20 competing tribes are the Tribu Ivatan, Baryohanon, San Pedro, Binhi, Hamili, Paghidaet, Angola, Kalubihan, Molave, Ilonganon, Pag-asa, Silak, Pana-ad, Atub-Atub, Himala, Familia Sagrada, Aninipay, Pari-anon, Ang Taga Jaro and Bantu.

For two years in a row, the festival has been cited by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines as the "Best Tourism Event" in the country.

It has also received international recognitions from the United Nations Development Program in a CityNet conference in Nepal as Best Practice in the Promotion of the Localization of the Millennium Development Goals, and from the Asian Development Bank as Best Practice in Public and Private Cooperation.