ILOILO CITY – Organizers of the Dinagyang Festival -- one of the biggest festivals in the country -- want the event to be insulated from any form of partisan politics.
In fact, City Mayor Jerry Treñas even issued Executive Order No. 2023-009 to make known his intention to keep the religious festival as solemn as it should be.
“We want an apolitical festival,” said Mayor Treñas on Friday, Jan. 20.
Under his EO, ‘all political slogans or propaganda materials and anti-government slogans in any form’ are prohibited, although the city top executive said he is allowing greetings for the success of the festival.
Treñas also suspended the issuance of permits for rallies, whether pro or anti-government, to give way for the return of the festival after missing it for two years due to the Covind-19 pandemic.
Treñas earlier claimed that someone from a government agency requested him to ban political ads in a festival that pays homage to the Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus). However, the city mayor did not elaborate.
It can be recalled that Iloilo City was also in the limelight during the 2022 national elections, with Treñas then backing the candidacy of former vice president Leni Robredo.
For this Sunday’s highlight of the festival, Treñas has invited President Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, who has Ilonggo roots.
However, it is not clear if the President and First Lady will arrive on Sunday, January 22, for Dinagyang's highlights.
Vice President Sara Duterte and several senators are also invited to the Dinagyang.
The Dinagyang Festival is a religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City, Philippines, held annually on the 4th Sunday of January, or right after the Sinulog in Cebu and the Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan.