Tinuom Festival - DOT Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab and DOT VI Director Edwin Trompeta get a taste of the famous "Tinuom" of Cabatuan, Iloilo while watching the group representing the Tinuom Festival perform during the Regional Parade of Festivals held at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand, Iloilo City October 27. Tinuom Festival is one of the 17 festival entries which participated in the event during the week-long Western Visayas Tourism Assembly held here in Iloilo City. Tinuom is a native chicken menu cooked in spices and broth wrapped in Banana leaves.

PIA 2006/10/28

17 festival entries perform at Parade of Festivals

Iloilo City (28 October) -- A total of 17 festival entries from the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental awed the crowd that gathered at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand and the parade routes to witness the Regional Parade of Festivals held in this city yesterday (October 27).

Though not a competition, the festival entries were given 10 minutes each to execute their performance. However, a special recognition with a corresponding P5,000 cash award was given to each of the 5 best performing groups selected by the board of judges.

The Iloilo festivals that performed were the Tinuom Festival of Cabatuan, Pandayan of Badiangan, Saad of Leganes, Lanot of Janiauy, Cry of Jelicuon of New Lucena, Kahilwayan of Sta. Barbara, Pintados de Passi of Passi City, Banaag of Anilao and Dinagyang of Iloilo City.

It was the world-famous Ati-Atihan of Kalibo and Bariw of Nabas that performed for the province of Aklan.

On the other hand the province of Negros Occidental showcased the Masskara of Bacolod City and the Babaylan of Bago City.

The province of Antique featured two of its festivals during the event that include the Binirayan and the Pahinis Festival of Laua-an.

The province of Guimaras has its Manggahan Festival while the province of Capiz its Sinadya sa Halaran.

The Parade of Festivals is one of the featured events of the week - long Western Visayas Tourism Assembly which is an off -shoot of the "WOW Philippines, Best of the Regions" held for the past years in Intramuros, Manila.

DOT Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab and Regional Development Council VI Chairperson Governor Sally Zaldivar Perez were among the officials who graced the half-day event. (PIA)

PIA 2006/10/18

Iloilo City (18 October) -- The tourism potentials of Western Visayas will be like an open book showcasing a colorful and unique destination attractions on October 23-29, 2006.

Director Edwin Trompeta of the Department of Tourism (DOT) here said in a PIA interview that the activity is in line with the government’s development and investment plan for the country in recognition to the tourism industry’s role as one of the major engines for socio-economic development.

“Our focus is domestic tourism but we have to ensure that our local destinations are in synch with the promotional thrust of the national government”.

It may be recalled that during the SONA of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Central Philippines super region was declared as the tourism hub of the country. Central Philippines super region comprises Regions V (Bicol Region), VI (Western Visayas, VII (Central Visayas) and VIII, plus the provinces of Palawan and Romblon.

Director Trompeta said that the WV Tourism Assembly which will be participated by the six provinces of Region VI will be held at the SM City Activity Center, here with the theme focusing on “Sustaining Domestic Tourism: Turning Ideas Into Action”.

“To be able to sustain domestic tourism, specially with the local government units spearheading the promotions and marketing, we are actually in search for ideas and while there are many who are involved in the tourism industry there are also many ideas available and we would like to get those ideas, identify them, discuss these ideas, resolve them and get to agree on some basic initiatives that could help propel the industry forward,” Trompeta said.

He said, during the WV Tourism Assembly Parade of Festivals on October 27, the public will be given an opportunity to witness different festivals in Region VI like Negros Occidental’s Masskara Festival (Bacolod City) and Babaylan Festival of Bago City; Iloilo- Pintados de Pasi (Passi City); Carabao-Carroza Festival (Pavia); Pandayan (Badiangan); Tinu-om (Cabatuan); Binanog (Lambunao); Pakuyang sa Tangyan (Igbaras); Tultugan (Maasin); Kahilwayan (Sta. Barbara); Cry of Jelicuon Festival (New Lucena); Saad (Leganes); Iloilo City - Dinagyang and Paraw Regatta; Aklan - Sto. Nino Ati-atihan (Kalibo); Bariw (Nabas); Ibajay Ati-atihan (Ibajay); Antique- Binirayan and Lauaan’s Pahinis; Capiz- Sinadya sa Halaran; and Guimaras- Manggahan.

Four major topics were identified to be discussed during the WV Tourism Forum, Trompeta said. These are Heritage Tourism, Wellness Tourism, Destination Management, and Relevant Education in Tourism.

Other highlights of the event include Cultural Showcase, Exhibit, Search for Miss Tourism, Food Festival, Travel Exchange/Mart. (PIA/T. Villavert)

Tribu Ilonganon, Kahilwayan top 2007 Dinagyang Festival

PIA 2007/01/31

Iloilo City (31 January) -- Tribu Ilonganon of Jalandoni Memorial National High School and Tribu Kahilwayan of the municipality of Sta. Barbara were the big winners in this year's Dinagyang Festival of this city.

Defending champion Tribu Ilonganon bested anew among 20 participating tribes in the ATI-competition last Sunday going home with a total of P135,000 in cash prizes and a grand champion trophy.

As the grand champion, Tribu Ilonganon won P100,000, for Best in Costume, and Performance awards at P10,000 each and an additional P15,000 from Senate President Manuel Villar.

Tribu Paghidaet was first runner-up and won the best in street dancing, best in music and best in choreography and choreographer awards. Other major winners include Tribu Ang Taga-Jaro, 2nd runner up, Tribu Silak, 3rd runner-up and Tribu Atub-Atub, 4th runner-up. Adjudged best in headdress was Tribu Molave and best in discipline was Tribu Atub-Atub.

Tribu Kahilwayan ruled out the Kasadyahan competition grabbing the championship and minor awards such as Best in Music, Best in Performance and Best in Choreography and Choreographer. In all, Tribu Kahilwayan won P135,000 in prize money.

Next to Tribu Kahilwayan in the Kasadyahan competition was Grupo Ilahas of the municipality of Cabatuan, 1st runner-up followed by Tribu Tultugan of the municipality of Masin, 2nd runner-up, Tribu Mandurrianon of Mandurriao National High School, 3rd runner-up and Tribu Saad of Leganes National high School, 4th runner-up. Grupo Ilahas and Tribu Mandurriaonon also won the best in street dancing and best in costume respectively.

During the awarding ceremony, the two winning tribes were invited by an official of the Manila Broadcasting Company, sponsor of the annual Aliwan Festival, to officially represent the Dinagyang Festival in the said event slated on April 2007 in Manila where a P1 million cash prize awaits the winner.

Last year, Tribu ilonganon was adjudged second place in the Aliwan Festival.

The Kasadyahan and the ATI competitions highlight the week-long Dinagyang Festival. Kasadyahan is a Mardi-Gras type presentation held on a Saturday while the ATI is a tribe competition on a Sunday.

The festival started from a simple procession by the devotees for Senor Sto. Nino, thirty-nine years ago and today, it has evolved into a grand and socio-cultural spectacle attracting both local and foreign tourists.

Last year, the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) chose Dinagyang as the best tourism event in the country. It was also cited by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as one of the best practices in illustrating an effective public-private partnership to ensure the success of a major annual tourism event.

Dinagyang, likewise, is the only festival officially endorsed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) through its UN Habitat special project by approving the proposed project initiated by Mayor Jerry Trenas called Dinagyang and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). To ensure the implementation of the project, the UNDP has pledged P520,000 assistance. (PIA)