BACOLOD CITY – Thousands of revelers flocked to Cadiz City in Negros Occidental to celebrate the 50th Golden Dinagsa Festival over the weekend.
Highlight of the event was the city-wide paint party “Lamhitanay sa Dalan,” where revelers had water-based paints painted on their clothes, vehicles, and faces and wore white clothes to experience the traditional way of celebrating one of the most colorful street parties.
MAYOR Salvador Escalante Jr. joins revelers during the city-wide paint party 'Lamhitanay sa Dalan' to cap the 50th edition of this year’s Dinagsa Festival in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental on Sunday, January 28. (Photo courtesy of Bilis Cadiz)
Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. said on the last day of the 50th edition of the festival in honor of the city’s patron saint, Señor Santo de Cadiz, on Sunday, January 28, that the event will boost the local economy as they expect around P500 to P700-million income.
“That’s the essence of this. We will spend money, but we make sure that the people will earn from this. That’s the commercial side of Dinagsa Festival,” he added.
Escalante said that the two-week celebration was peaceful with no untoward incidents.
Last year, police estimated a crowd of around 450,000 in the festivity. Police have yet to release attendance numbers this year, pending record from the City Tourism Office.
Meanwhile, Tribu Bucad Caduhaan was hailed champion in this year’s Dinagsa Festival Street Dance Competition. The group representing Barangays Burgos, Cadiz Viejo, and Caduha-an, received P200,000 cash prize.
They were choreographed by Rolando Moldes III while their music was composed by Jessie Boy Villanueva and their costumes were designed by Gerson Alimodian with co-tribe manager Claire Consing.
Last year’s champion Tribu Matinambi Tres, representing Barangays Mabini, Tinampaan, and Zone 3, placed first runner-up, and received P150,000.
Tribu Sicablun Quatro, representing Barangays Sicaba, Luna, and Zone 4, was second runner-up, and received P100,000, while Tribu Maraynon, representing Barangays Zone 2 and 5, placed third runner-up, and took home P75,000.
Consolation prizes of P50,000 each were given to Tribu Majeca, representing Barangays Magsaysay, Jerusalem, and Cabahug; Tribu Tibanda, composed of Barangays Tiglawigan, Banquerohan, and Daga; Tribu Hitalon, composed of Barangays Andres Bonifacio, Zone 6, and Zone 1; and Tribu Sewanara, representing Barangays VF Gustilo, and Celestino Villacin.
Tribu Matinambi Tres also won minor awards such as Most Disciplined, Best in Costume, and Best in Choroegraphy, while Tribu Bucad Caduhaan won Best in Sound/Rhythm, and Best in Performance.
Special awards were given to Charliemen Besa as best local choreographer from Tribu Matinambi Tres which also won the Best 50th Dinagsa Festival Theme, and Christopher John Puerta from the group won as best local costume designer.
Tribu Maraynon won the Best in Dance Ritual.
They all received P10,000 each.