CHAMPIONS. Tribu Pan-ay of Fort San Pedro National High School (top) and Tultugan Festival of Maasin, Iloilo, emerged champions in the Tribes competition and Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan of the Iloilo 2024 Dinagyang Festival. Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, in a press conference on Monday (Jan. 29), said Dinagyang has gone to the next level. (PNA photo courtesy of Iloilo Dinagyang Festival)
ILOILO CITY – Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival was a big success, with the Tribu Pan-ay and the Tultugan Festival bringing home championship crowns for the Tribes Competition and the “Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan,” respectively.
Tribu Pan-ay of the Fort San Pedro National High School bagged the PHP1 million cash prize, PHP10 million worth of projects from the Uswag Ilonggo Party list pledged by Rep. James Ang, PHP15 million projects from the city government, PHP10,000 cash prize for the best music and best musical director special award.
“Dinagyang has gone really to the next level. Ilonggos are very proud, not only Ilonggos who are here in Iloilo or even in the country, (but) Ilonggos even abroad. They are all very proud, and I am very proud,” said Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas in a press conference Monday.
Also in the top five were the Tribu Paghidaet of La Paz National High School, Tribu Ilonganon of Jalandoni Memorial National High School, Tribu Mandu-Riyaw of Mandurriao National High School, and Tribu Salognon of Jaro National High School.
Tultugan Festival of Maasin town, on the other hand, won a PHP500,000 cash prize and PHP10 million worth of projects from Uswag Partylist, and an additional PHP40,000 for winning the best in discipline, music and musical director, choreography, and performance.
At the flag-raising ceremony at the provincial capitol, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor said a bigger Kasadyahan is at stake next year as it “contributed to a more fun and exciting Dinagyang Festival” this year.
For the first time, the provincial government hosted the Kasadyahan event that showcased festivals of selected towns in the province.
"To say that the Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan was a resounding success is not enough. It is the best Kasadyahan in history," Defensor said in a statement.
Other winners included the Tribu Jalaud of the Hirinugyaw Sugidanonay of Calinog and the Kaing Festival of Leon.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) said the festival was generally peaceful with zero major crime incidents recorded.
The Task Group Dinagyang deployed 8,607 security forces in all the venues of Dinagyang-related events.
“The community witnessed active involvement from various law enforcement agencies within Iloilo City, working together to ensure the success of this year's highly anticipated event. The whole-of-government approach, cooperation, and collaboration significantly contributed to the peaceful conduct of this yearly event,” said the ICPO in a statement following its closing and awarding ceremony for all the participating peacekeepers.
Towards the end of the revelry on Sunday evening, the task group monitored more or less 158,000 revelers in all event venues.
“Again, we made history; your support and cooperation are the keys. ICPO is proud enough to say that we have done something, we have achieved something, and we can do more when we unite and support each other,” said ICPO director Col. Joeresty Coronica. (PNA)
