Mayor Jerry P. Treñas on Sunday, Jan. 26, recognized the “significant role” of the Dinagyang Festival in making Iloilo City “known not only in the country, but also in the whole world.”
“Wherever the Dinagyang is, Iloilo is promoted as a tourist destination, making both local and foreign tourists eager and excited to witness the world-class festival,” he said during the Dinagyang 360° Tribe Competition.
“The festival was invited several times to perform in the United States, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and other countries,” Treñas noted.
The mayor thanked the Ilonggos for making him the mayor of the city again.
“Bangud sa inyo pagpalangga, suporta, kag pagsalig sa akon, I was given a rare opportunity to lead Iloilo City with the intention of bringing back the glory that was once of the Dinagyang Festival,” he said.
Before he became congressman of the city from 2010 to 2019, he served as mayor for nine straight years from 2001 to 2010.
In May last year, Treñas was elected mayor of the city.He defeated his brother-in-law, Jose Espinosa III.
The following month, he announced that the city’s Dinagyang Festival would be handled by a new foundation.
A press release from the city government said the officials of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), mostly from the Chinese-Filipino community, were “personally handpicked by Treñas.”
IFFI replaced the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. (IFFI).
“Our goal is to give back to the Ilonggos a grander and a more festive celebration, and to bring the Dinagyang Festival to a whole new level,” said Treñas.
The celebration of Dinagyang 2020 ran from Jan. 18 to 26.
Acccording to Treñas, more than half a million of people “converged all over the city” during the festival’s main highlight. IMT
Photo by Arnold Almacen/CMO
