Iloilo Sports Complex venue of Dinagyang 2012 competition

By MONTESA GRINO-CAOYONAN

It’s final. The “grand performance” of the competing tribes for the Dinagyang Festival 2012 will be witnessed at the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz, Iloilo City.

Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr. has approved the proposal of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) to use the sports complex as the final judging area.

Yesterday afternoon, the IDFI through its President Ramon Cua Locsin together with City Tourism Officer Benito Jimena had presented to the governor their proposed plan on how to protect the facility especially the rubberized track oval, as well as the painted volleyball and basketball courts against possible damage.

On the same day, the governor with the IDFI officials personally visited the Iloilo Sports Complex for inspection.

As agreed, the competing tribes will perform on the cemented floor being used as basketball and volleyball courts which is in front of the stage. Also, the foundation will be placing plywood and fences on some parts of rubberized oval which will be included on the 40X 70 performance area needed by the performing tribes. The governor also advised the IDFI to secure the drainage near the basketball and volleyball courts against possible incidents since it is only covered by removable grills.

Defensor wants also to make the field off-limits to viewers, who will just remain seated on the grandstand. The governor said he is open to the said as long as the IDFI and the city government will take good care of the facility.

“All cost needed for the repair and rehabilitation including the safety of all the participants will be shouldered by the foundation. The provincial government will not spend any centavo on the rehabilitation pertaining to the preparation for the festival,” said Defensor.

Meanwhile, Jimena said one of the main reasons why they want to use the sports complex as the final judging area is that it can accommodate more spectators. He said Dinagyang Festival is known as one of the Best Tourism Events in the country that has been attracting millions of viewers around the world.

Jimena said sports complex can accommodate almost 25,000 people while the Freedom Grandstand could only accommodate around 5,000 persons.

“We will obey the agreement we both greed with the governor. We promised the governor that we will take care and be responsible to any damage,” Jimena said.

JUDGING AREAS

The Iloilo Sports Complex will serve as Judging Area No. 1, instead of the usual Iloilo Freedom Grandstand. The Holy Mass that is being held before the Ati-ati competition will be at the complex also, instead of the San Jose Parish Church.

The Judging Area No. 2 will be in front of the St. Clements Church on Luna Street, La Paz district; Judging Area No. 3 will be near the old Capitol building while Judging Area No. 4 will be at the Freedom grandstand.

Jimena said other common activities like food festival and live bands within the downtown area will remain as in the original plan.

Dinagyang 2012 is set on January 21-22 with the theme “Beyond Awards, a Culture of Excellence.”*

iloilonewstoday.com

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Aquino may not attend Dinagyang 2012

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III may not make it for the Dinagyang Festival in January 21-22, 2012 as his schedule is already booked for different advanced appointments.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, however, is unfazed, saying he is doing his best to have Aquino during the festival and inaugurate at least four major city infrastructure projects.

The projects include the new Iloilo City Hall, City Community College, as well as the Esplanade and the Lanit relocation site for informal settlers.

The seven-storey new city hall was built at almost P700 million; the school at P25 million, donated by businessman Edgar Sia of Mang Inasal; the Esplanade project initiated by Senator Franklin Drilon was at P48 million; and the housing project for more than 2,000 displaced informal settler-families at the Lanit relocation site in Jaro district was at P244 million.

Mabilog said the city is a recipient of P144 million housing grant from the National Housing Authority and P100 million from the Office of the President.

Another P100 million grant from the Department of Social Welfare and Development core shelter program will house another 1,000 squatter families.

Meanwhile, the Dinagyang Festival 2012 will have other confirmed guests to include the Ambassadors of the United States and South Africa, officials of Daly City, California, USA, Senators Antonio Trillanes and Franklin M. Drilon, among others. (Lydia C. Pendon)

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Dinagyang 2012 Grand Performance at the Iloilo Sports Complex

Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. has approved the proposal of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) to place the ‘Grand Performance’ of all the competing tribes at the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz district here.


On Thursday afternoon, the IDFI, through its president, Ramon Cua Locsin, together with City Tourism Officer Benito Jimena, presented to the governor their plan on how to protect the facility, especially the rubberized track oval as well as the painted volleyball and basketball courts against possible damage.

The governor, together with the IDFI officials, went to the Iloilo Sports Complex for a site visit.


As agreed upon, the competing tribes will perform on the cemented floor reserved for basketball and volleyball courts, which is in front of the stage.
Also, the foundation will be placing plywood and fences on some parts of the rubberized oval which will be included on the 40X70 performance area needed by the performing tribes.


The governor also advised the IDFI to secure the drainage near the basketball and volleyball courts against possible incidents since it is only covered by removable grills.

Defensor also wants to make off-limits viewers on the field and just remain seated on the grandstand.

He said he is open on this idea as long as the IDFI and the city government will take good care of the facility.

Jimena said one of the main reasons why they want to change the venue is to accommodate more spectators.

He also said the Dinagyang Festival, which is one of the best tourism events in the country, has been an attraction to million of viewers around the world.
With the new venue, Jimena said the sports complex can accommodate almost 25,000 people. The Freedom Grandstand could only accommodate around 5,000 persons.

Meanwhile, the Iloilo Sports Complex will serve as Judging Area No. 1, instead of the usual Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.

The Holy Mass that is held before the Ati-Ati competition will also be in the sports complex, instead of the San Jose Parish Church.

Judging Area No. 2 will be in front of the St. Clements Church on Luna Street, La Paz District; Judging Area No. 3 will be near the old Capitol building while Judging Area No. 4 will be at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.

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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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