For the first time, the celebration of Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival will go digital due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions.
The Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI) officially introduced Dinagyang Digital 2021 on Friday night, Nov. 13, with the theme “One Dinagyang, One Iloilo, Halad kay Senior Sto. Niño.”
IFFI president Jobert Peñaflorida said the virtual celebration is fully supported by the city government, Parish of San Jose de Placer, and the Department of Tourism (DOT).
The festival’s Virtual Opening Salvo and Virtual Religious Sadsad are set on Jan. 15, 2021 and Jan. 23, 2021, respectively.
“On January 24, 2021 is our Virtual Dinagyang Mass, followed by a full day Dinagyang Digital 2021,” said Peñaflorida.
Featuring the city’s “wonderful sites”, the activities will be livestreamed on Facebook and other social media platforms.
“Dinagyang can now be seen from across the country and around the globe,” said Peñaflorida.
The 2021 edition of the festival will showcase “world-class virtual performances.”
“We have gathered our best Ilonggo directors, videographers, and choreographers to work together to deliver pre-filmed performance videos featuring our devotion to Sto. Nino, the indigenous people – the Ati and Panay Bukidnon – performance from our Ilonggo artists, individual performances from our select tribes, collaborative tribe performances, and our tribute to the frontliners and the city of Iloilo,” said Peñaflorida.
Miss Iloilo Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo has been named as the ambassador of Dinagyang Digital 2021 and chosen to host the festival.IMT
Photo by Arnold Almacen
