ILOILO CITY — Mayor Jose Espinosa III said it is 90 percent sure that President Rodrigo Roa-Duterte will be coming to this city for the 50th Dinagyang Festival onJanuary 26-28.
Espinosa III, in a coordination meeting with the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc (IDFI) Friday afternoon , said the performances will be maximized for the President to see and do away with lengthy speeches.
“If it happens that the President decided to watch the performances, then he is going to be the first President in the 50 years of Dinagyang to do it,” Espinosa said.
Former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo graced the festival in 2008 but only attended the high mass at the San Jose Church.
Ten festivals from various municipalities in Western Visayas will join the regional Kasadyahan cultural completion and 10 tribes will also compete in the Ati dance competition to be held on January 27 and January 28, respectively.
IDFI president Ramon Cua Locsin said next year’s additional attraction will be the “Lighted Floats Parade” in the evening of January 27 and performers from South Korea and New Zealand will join the International Cultural Show.
To ensure a peaceful staging of various events during the festival, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has created Task Group Dinagyang.
The shutdown of telecommunication signal will also be implemented in specific hours while the suspension of permit to carry firearms outside of residence is also being pushed.
Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Raymund Alcayaga of the San Jose Parish, said the image of Señor Sto. Niño will be brought to Cebu in time for the celebration of its Feast.
The 2018 Dinagyang Festival is themed “Señor Sto. Niño: Chaste, Poor and Obedient Son of God’ while, tagline is “Timeless Tradition, Culture and Devotion.” (Perla Lena/PNA)
