ILOILO CITY -- First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos was one of the special guests of Mayor Jerry Treñas for the main event of the 2023 Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City on Sunday, Jan. 22.
“Maayong adlaw sa inyo nga tanan (Good day, everyone),” the First Lady said as she greeted a huge crowd at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.
“I am happy to be here. Happy Dinagyang to everybody,” the First Lady added.
“A schoolmate of mine, she came here to witness the best tourism event in the country,” said Treñas.
Treñas expressed appreciation that the First Lady still came to Iloilo City even if she only arrived in the country Saturday afternoon from Switzerland, where she accompanied President Bongbong Marcos Jr. for the 2023 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.
Politics was also visibly set aside during the main highlight of the Dinagyang Festival -- an annual religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City and one of the biggest festivals in the Philippines – as the First Lady graced the occasion.
After all, both parents of the First Lady are Ilonggos. She is related to the landed clans of Araneta, Ledesma and Cacho.
It was also gathered that Mrs. Marcos would also be teaching law at the West Visayas State University.
Also present during Dinagyang’s main event were Senators Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Francis Tolentino, and Risa Hontiveros.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez was also seen at the Freedom Grandstand.