Iloilo Dinagyang Festival performed in New York City!

Posted by Enrico Dee on June 8, 2011

Tribu Pan-ay the current champion of the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City Philippineshas recently performed in New York City during the annual celebration of the Philippine Independence Day.

I have been so lucky to follow this group since December when they were still rehearsing for the annual Dinagyang Festival.The event was held last January where they got to topple the three-time winner Tribu Paghidaet.

Tribu Paghidaet emerged only as first runner up in the contest.

During the awarding ceremonies, I can hear the dancers scream “Aliwan, Aliwan!” and “New York, New York”.

I know they were talking about the Aliwan Fiesta which was just held last April in Manila. The very same group also won the championship and pocketing One Million Pesos in Cash Prize. But I really had no idea about that “New York” thingie, until recently, when the dancers themselves told me that the Iloilo City Government received an invitation from a group in New York for them to perform at the Big Apple. Whoa! ang bongga di ba!

The group became busy even before they left Iloilo for Aliwan Fiesta, like processing their birth certificates, Philippine Passport, etc.

Then after the Aliwan, I knew they went back here in Manila for a week for scheduled interview at the US Embassy. Too bad I wasn’t able to meet them while they were here. All of them were issued US Visa.

And off to the US they all went.

Last June 5, the pride of Iloilo City performed at the streets of New York to the delight of the Filipino Community as well as americans. Looking at the videos posted on Youtube, it looks like the group was very well applauded.

It was another milestone for Dinagyang Festival. If I’m not mistaken this is the first time that they have sent a contingent to the US for a performance. I heard they still have a performance in New Jersey.

with the group’s performance, this is a great way to promote the Dinagyang Festival to the Filipino communities and invite them to come home, as well as to the nationalities to experience the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines. This is a surefire way to boos the Tourism potentials of the Philippines abroad. I hope more of these will come soon!

Congratulations to Fort San Pedro National High School dancers for making us all proud as Filipinos.