By Perla Lena/PNA
ILOILO CITY — Nine groups will compete while two others will serve as guest performers during the Kasadyahan regional cultural competition of the 2019 Iloilo Dinagyang Festival slated to be held on January 26, 2019.
The competing groups came from two festivals in Antique, four from Iloilo, and one each from Negros Occidental Capiz, and Guimaras.
They are the Hambaro Festival of San Remegio and Binirayan Festival from Antique; Pinta Flores of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental; Sugilanon Festival of Roxas City in Capiz; and Hubon Guimarasnon of Manggahan Festival of Guimaras.
From Iloilo, the groups are the Tultugan Festival of Maasin, Kaing Festival of Leon, Manughabol sang Salakayan Festival of Miagao, and Hugyaw St. Therese MTC Colleges.
The Masskara Festival of Bacolod City and the Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) Panganinaw Festival will perform as guest groups, Dr. Eden Deriada, chair of the Kasadyahan committee of the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival, said in a phone interview Tuesday.
She added that the Kasag Festival of Banate also expressed its interest to join but they were told that everything has already been set for the Kasadyahan.
“Maybe next year they will be joining us,” Deriada addd.
She said those who confirmed earlier already received one-half of their PHP500,000 committed subsidy from the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. (IDFI). Non-competing groups will also receive PHP200,000 in financial assistance.
“We have already drawn lots for the takeoff area of their performance and we will be giving them their final billeting areas,” she added.
The regional cultural competition gathers the best of festivals from all over Western Visayas in one venue just as the Kasadyahan. The festivals usually depict thanksgiving and the way of life of the people where the festival comes from.
Meantime, the IDFI ticket committee announced that the selling of tickets for the four stages that are being managed by the foundation will start on December 27. The venue for the selling of the tickets will be at the third floor of the Iloilo City Hall.
