Dinagyang Festival 2009 Schedule

Its December once again and only a month more to go before the Dinagyang Festival. For those of you who's not yet familiar with the Dinagyang Festival, It is a two day celebration in the streets of downtown Iloilo every fourth weekend of January to commemorate the birth of Christianity among the Natives and to Honor Santo Niño the Holy Child Jesus.

On the first day of the celebration which is a Saturday, the Kasadyahan Competition is held, it features a colorful parade of costumes where tribes compete with their own interpretation of dramatized offerings and prayers for their patron saint. It usually portrays a battle between the good and the evil in which the good prevails with the help of their patron or Sto. Niño.

The following day is the Dinagyang Ati Competition, it features different tribes in colorful costumes made from indigenous materials. The tribe members called the warriors cover their bodies with dark brown paint to imitate the color of the Aetas which is the first settlers of the Panay Island. These warriors dance to the thundering beat of drums while shouting “Viva Senior Santo Niño.

In the previous years, during this time of the year, you can already hear the lively beat of the drums every night when different tribes practice for their performance the next year, but the plaza's in every municipality seems to be quiet? There are so many speculations about the matter and the question now is, where are the tribes and will the Dinagyang still be celebrated?

Luckily, the answer is YES. The Executive Committee of the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival 2009 has expressed optimism that it can achieve its objective of giving festival followers and tourists a fun-filled celebration despite a little delay in the implementation of lined up activities in its table of operation. Hailed as the country’s best tourism event for three straight years by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines, Dinagyang festival is scheduled from January 14 to 25, 2009.

Here's the Complete Schedule for the Dinagyang Festival Celebration

November 6, 2009 (12nn) - Local Launch of Dinagyang Festival

December 7, 2009 (3pm) - National Launch of Dinagyang Festival

December 13, 2009 (2pm) - Pamukaw 2009

December 20, 2009 (2pm) - Presentation of Miss Dinagyang 2009 candidates

January 16, 2009 (3pm) - Opening Salvo

January 18, 2009 (7pm) - Coronation Night of Miss Dinagyang 2009

January 22 to 23, 2009 - First Iloilo International Dragon Boat Race Competition

January 23, 2009 (8am) - Dinagyang Drum and Bugle Competition

January 23, 2009 (3pm) - Fluvial Procession

January 24, 2009 (8am) - Kasadyahan Competition

January 24, 2009 (7pm) - International Night

January 25, 2009 (8am) - Dinagyang Ati Competition

January 25, 2009 (7pm) - Iloilo Dinagyang 2009 Awarding Ceremonies

Pictures from ILOILO -the heart of the Philippines the Official website of the Province of Iloilo