Media Accreditation Guideline for Dinagyang Festival 2012

A MEDIA accreditation guideline for Dinagyang Festival 2012 coverage has been released by the Publicity and Media Relations Group of Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI).

Media ID will only be issued to active media practitioner affiliated with established/legitimate media organization/agency/associations; active photographers who are members of legitimate photographic associations and bloggers with active and updated blog sites.

Accreditation forms shall be accomplished properly with 2 1x1 pictures, duly signed by the head of the agency/organization.

Media groups/organizations based outside of Iloilo shall secure endorsement of their request for Media Accreditation from the city or provincial tourism office in their respective areas.

Bloggers shall indicate their blog sites upon application subject to verification by the committee in-charge.

Only those with active and updated blog sites can qualify for the accreditation.

Accomplished Accreditation forms shall be submitted on or before January 10, 2012.

Local applicants may submit their forms at the Iloilo City Hall Public Information Office, Iloilo City Hall, 3rd floor, Robinson’s Place, Iloilo City.

Those outside of Iloilo may send their forms through email at: pearl376@yahoo.com.

A registration fee of P500.00 is required for photographers. Bloggers outside of Iloilo are also required to pay the similar amount. Payment shall be made during the release of IDs on January 20, 2012 at the conference room of the Philippine Red Cross, Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City.

A color code for Media ID shall be assigned to indicate access to the media space in a specific performance area. Please be guided accordingly.

The guideline was issued by Perla Lena, Head of Publicity and Media Relations Group and noted by IDFI President Ramon Cua Locsin.

Source: Iloilo Today

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2012 Dinagyang Festival to focus more on religiosity

THE Dinagyang Festival in 2012 will not just give pomp, pageantry and colors but also emphasis on religiosity, particularly on the Ilonggos’ veneration of the patron saint Señor Santo Niño.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who met with Agustinian priests of Arevalo and San Jose parishes, said major changes will be made on the religious events of the festival. The Santo Niño in Arevalo church will be given more focus, he added.

The Arevalo church hosts the third oldest Santo Niño image in the entire country and was seldom given honor during the festival.

Mabilog said the image will be brought from the Arevalo church to San Jose church, where it will stay for a few days until the arrival of the Santo Niño de Cebu.

The image from Cebu was brought to Iloilo four days before the Dinagyang festival proper and devotees flock to San Jose church to pay homage to the Sto. Niño.

Mabilog said the historical Arevalo image will be given due recognition during the Dinagyang festival in 2012 as an important religious and historical icon.

Sun Star

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Total gun ban during Dinagyang 2012, Chinese New Year

Iloilo city police office will recommend to CSupt. Cipriano Querol Jr., chief of PNP regional office in Western Visayas a total gun ban during the Dinagyang Festival and Chinese New year next month.

Querol, on the other hand, will recommend to Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and PNP chief Gen. Nicanor Bartolome, the total gun ban in this city for the period January 15-30, 2012 in time for the Dinagyang Festival and Chinese New Year celebration.

Dinagyang 2012 will start it first activity on Friday, December 16, 2011 through a “Pamukaw” parade to be participated by ati-atihan and kasadyahan groups for a month-long celebration. The festival highlights will be on January 21-22, 2012 with more than one million persons expected to see the festival performances in the city.

The Chinese New Year, on the other hand, is celebrated January 23, 2012 but the Iloilo celebration will fall on January 26, 2012.

Both activities boast of the presence of several dignitaries and diplomats, top government officials and domestic and foreign tourists.

Source: Iloilo Today

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Iloilo city eyes int’l flights for Dinagyang 2012

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog will be seeking a meeting with the Gokongweis of Cebu Pacific Air soon to workout a direct international flight schedule from Hongkong to Iloilo Airport and back in time for the Dinagyang Festival 2012 .

Mabilog said the heavy passenger traffic at the Iloilo airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo, especially during the Christmas holidays until the month of February deemed it necessary to develop Iloilo and absorb international flights.

As it is, the Iloilo Airport of international standards has no international flights to boast of as tourists prefer to take the Aklan and Caticlan airports to serve the Chinese, Japanese and Korean passengers to go to Boracay Island.

Mabilog said the Iloilo airport is ready and available for foreign passengers, overseas Filipino overseas contract workers (OCWs) and balikbayans who wish to have a vacation and enjoy the Dinagyang festivities.

The city mayor said the initial target of direct flights will be Hongkong-Iloilo-Hongkong to serve the Chinese passengers and OCWs. Eventually, direct flights to China and Korea will be included in the airlines schedule.

The city tourism and development office has reported the increased arrivals of visitors from Hongkong, China and Korea in the past year to enjoy the festivities and other special events of the city.

Dinagyang Festival celebrated in the last week of January is a premier tourist attraction in the city aside from beaches and natural wonders of nearby Guimaras Island and northern Iloilo, old churches in southern Iloilo and the unique food preparations of the city.

Mabilog said a passenger-traveller from Iloilo will save much of resources if there is a direct international flight here instead of going to Manila and Cebu for their flights.

The city mayor is also eyeing cooperation of the local travel and tours industry group to participate in booking of passengers for charter or regular international flights.

Source: Iloilo Today

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