It was a day of excitement. I knew it will never be ordinary occassion. And I was perfectly right. As the sun began to rise, thrilled people started to pile up along the street to witness the fully anticipated parade of local tribes. Few minutes waiting, I heard the rolling drums, in energizing beats that eventually swung the mood of the crowd to dance. And it was official, the grandest, the most spectacular and the climax of the week-long celebration of the Iloilo’s very onw Dinagyang Festival. And by that, one-by-one, simultaneous in four judging areas all throughout the city, each competing tribe vied the chance to be immortalized in the festival’s history showed their raving, powerful choreographed dances. All anticipation turned into great amusement as I was hook and totally fell in love into this great artistry. The arena instantly became a canvass with all those bursting colors of indigenous decorative materials that embellished the bodies of the soot-painted “warriors” energetically dancing in the boom and thump of the drums, trying to mimic the Negritos, the aborigines of Panay in their merrymaking in celebration on the coming of the Holy Child Jesus.
I enjoyed every single breath-taking performances, the indulging display of colorful costumes which getting better and better as the presentation came into its culmination. I loved to see how groups of warriors moved in unvarying phases and admired the burning passion at everyone’s heart who joined the street dancing. It is something every Ilonggo must be proud of. I highly appreciate the love they gave into Dinagyang which helps us guests and festive admirers made a year kept worth waiting to witness again how this laid back and peaceful city turned to be the happiest place on earth.
Hala bira, Iloilo!
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