ILOILO CITY – At least nine diplomats will attend the Dinagyang Festival here this month.

Confirmed to attend the two-day event from Jan. 21 to 22 were Ambassadors Xiomara Perez Rodriguez of Panama, Agus Widjojo of Indonesia, Borhan Uddin of Bangladesh, Tull Traisorat of Thailand, Folakemi Ibidunni Akinleye of Nigeria, Christian Halaas Lyster of Norway, and Raduta Dana Matache of Romania.
Ambassador Titanilla Toth of Hungary is sending Peter Laszlo as representative while Charge d' Affaires P.G.P. Kaushalya is representing Ambassador Shobini Gunasekera of Sri Lanka.
Organizer Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) said a more grand celebration of the festival that honors the Santo Niño (Child Jesus) will be held.
The Dinagyang Festival will be held face-to-face for the first time since the pandemic started. The event was held online in 2020 and 2021.
The Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) awarded the Dinagyang as the best tourism festival in 2020 and 2021.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said the diplomats’ visit will help in this city’s global economic promotion.