ROXAS CITY – The Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City has been awarded as the Best Festival for the Visayas of the Philippine LEAF Awards.
TRIBU Pan-ay of Fort San Pedro National High School is the winner of the main competition of the 2024 Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City. (Tara Yap)
The festival that honors the Santo Niño (Child Jesus) is a competition among groups in depicting the story of the land pact with the indigenous Ati people by the migrant Bornean datus and the introduction of Christianity.
The Dinagyang won over its predecessor, the Ati-Atihan Festival of Kalibo town, Aklan province.
Other finalists from the Visayas were the Sinulog Festival of Cebu and Bailes de Luces of La Castellana town, Negros Occidental province.
Elvert Bañares, one of the two artistic directors for this year’s Dinagyang Festival, accepted the award on behalf of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) and the Iloilo City government.
“To the community who has helped the Dinagyang Festival, this is for Ilonggos from all over the world,” said Bañares.
The Philippine LEAF Award honors the outstanding achievements of Filipino artists in the realms of live entertainment, arts, fashion, and festivals.
The Dinagyang has won several awards, including Best Cultural Festival by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines Inc. (ATOP).