2 Million to see Dinagyang Festival
More than 2 million individuals are expected to see and enjoy the highlights of Dinagyang Festival slated Saturday, January 23 and Sunday, January 24.
City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said the spectators and revelers this year’s celebration is beyond his expectations as all hotels and pension houses here are fully booked and paid in advance.
Treñas also said that beach resorts, lodging houses and hotels in the first and second districts of Iloilo have reported full reservations for guests and revelers of Dinagyang.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could not come to the Iloilo celebration since she has prior commitments. However, this should not dampen the spirit of Dinagyang as more dignitaries have signified their intentions to come to Dinagyang on Saturday and Sunday. Read more…
Iloilo celebrates week for autistic children
Iloilo celebrates week for autistic children
This southern city is celebrating the weeklong 14th National autism Consciousness Week with a program highlight on Sunday, January 24 at SM City Iloilo.
This was announced by Dolores Laudenorio, head of the Office of Persons with Disability Affairs (OPDA).
Laudenorio said that autism is a lifelong development disability that affects at least 600,000 families in the Philippines. It is a disability that affects how an individual interprets what he sees, hears and touches, thereby impairing his understanding and use of language and his adaptation to his environment.
The disability is not curable but is treatable. When a child is diagnosed and receives intervention early in life and given the appropriate education and therapy, they can become self-reliant and productive members of society. Read more…
A thousand drums: Guinness Book of World Records
Simultaneous roaring of a thousand drums today, January 22, will fire the first salvo of vying in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Tambor, Trumpa, Martsa Musika competition makes its way to the hearts of more than a million spectators of the world-famous Dinagyang Festival.
Dr. Febe Cang, chairperson of the Dinagyang drum and bugle competition, said the morning event will saw more than 1,000 drums roaring from the drummers of 16 Dinagyang Ati-atihan tribe contest, entries of 4 drum and lyre corps elementary level, 6 competitors in the secondary level and 3 marching bands and from guest performers PNP Band and the University of San Agustin.
Cang said they are going to document all the activities, the sound, music and performance of the drummers and send these to the Guinness Book of World Records by showing off that Iloilo Dinagyang is the biggest tourism event in the entire world.
The thousand drums will be held before the contest proper starting at 8:00 in the morning today. The contesting groups will perform in two performance areas such as the Freedom Grandstand and the Iloilo provincial capitol area. Read more…
Iloilo’s disabled join Dinagyang
More that 500 disabled persons in the city and province of Iloilo will join the Kasadyahan Parade on Saturday, January 23 to add color to the festivities and show-off that the disabled are still in society’s mainstream.
Office of Persons with Disability Affair (OPDA) head Dolores Laudenorio said the sector does not want to be left behind and it’s participation in the prestigious festival will once again display and explore the advocacy and awareness of disabled persons of Iloilo throughout the world.
More than 1.2 million individuals are expected to congregate in the city to see the events and the disabled here are joining the activities in honor of the Sr. Sto Niño. The disabled will also display their artistic talents on January 25 at the Jaro covered gym for a “One Night Showcase of Talents, Laudenorio said. Read more…
Food festival to showcase authentic Ilonggo cuisine
What is an authentic Ilonggo cuisine that tickles the finicky palate of those who tasted it?
This question will be answered by the Iloilo Hotels, Restaurants and Resorts Association (IHRRA) as it invites everybody and unfolds a four-day Dinagyang Food Festival on January 21-25, 2010 along Delgado Iznart streets here.
IRRA president Happy Abenir said the festival will showcase the truly Ilonggo dishes and delicacies, including food specialties of different restaurants and hotels in this highly urbanized city.
Abenir said the food festival will be participated by 28 IHRRA members all based in this city to show-off the best Ilonggo food to satisfy the palate of Ilonggos and their guests.
The area, a traditional place of the Dinagyang food festival, is a place to bring the family and their friends to show-off the truly Ilonggo hospital and best dishes and delicacies. Read more…
Dinagyang Dance Showdown Year 3
A total of 7 dance groups that passed the elimination rounds of the Dinagyang Dance Showdown Year 3 are set to vie in the grand finals today, January 22 at SM City Iloilo.
Spearheaded by city councilor Nielex Tupas, ABS-CBN and SM City, the dance showdown is a regular special event of the world-famous Dinagyang Festival with highlights this weekend.
Tupas said his dance project seeks to give an opportunity to the youth especially in the barangays to show-off their dancing skills, discipline and commitment to give Iloilo City the honor of being the festival center of Western Visayas. Read more…
1,000 volunteers to clean Dinagyang debris
Some 1,000 volunteers have signified their commitment to help clean the city streets after the Dinagyang Festival the highlights of which are on Friday, January 22 until Sunday, January 24, 2010.
City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said he has designated Engr. Raul Gallo of the Office of Public Services (OPS) to head the task force and help mobilize the volunteers clean the city streets.
It has been noted in the past Dinagyang Festival, mountains of garbage of more than 20 metric tons were collected in the downtown area, site of the three-kilometer long parade route of the Dinagyang. Read more…
City to host 3 intl events this month
This highly urbanized city in the Visayas is raring to host at least three international events before the end of November.
According to city mayor Jerry P. Treñas, the city is currently preparing for these events envisioned to once again, put the city in the international map of important convention destination in the country.
He likewise call on the barangays to do extra effort in cleaning up the barangays and for the persons involved in garbage collection to live up to name of the city as environment-friendly and the cleanest city in Western Visayas. Read more…
La Paz ABC prexy ready to vacate post
The president of the Association of Barangay Captains La Paz district here said he is willing to vacate his post as president but within the ambit of due process.
ABC La Paz president Carlos Guarin said the reported installation of an officer incharge of the district has no meaning on him since this was not done legally.
“I am willing to vacate the position but they must give me due courtesy because I am also giving them full respect,” Guarin said referring to 14 barangay captains who reportedly abandoned him and selected Ingore Brgy. Capt. Ernie Poral to be the ABC OIC district president. Read more…
WV rural women told to assert rights
ILOILO CITY – More than 100 women in rural areas in Western Visayas participated in the two-day Rural Women Congress by asserting their rights and empowering them as major partners in the development of rural economy.
DA Reg. Exec. Dir. Larry P. Nacionales said the women congress held November 11-12, 2009 is the department’s project in helping women farmers and fisher folks in the region as vital partners in agriculture.
Reg. Dir. David Bermudo of the Commission on Human Rights also exhorted women of their rights and helped them understand the law regarding women and family.
Bermudo stressed that rural women are more prone to abuse and sexual harassment than women in the urban sector. He added that only educated women tend to defend their rights up to the judicial level, whereas rural women are afraid to bring their cases to court. Read more…