Dinagyang’s trip to NYC will proceed despite visa problems
“Outstanding people have one thing in common: An absolute sense of mission.” –Zig Ziglar
Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival almost missed out on attending the 120th Philippine Independence Day parade in New York City, set to take place next weekend, June 3, after encountering visa problems with the US Embassy in Manila. However, as of May 26, according to former Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) Joji Juele-Jalandoni, “Everything is set and ready after the problem has been resolved.”
Juele-Jalandoni, originally of the Victorias Milling Company in Negros Occidental, said, if the problem were not fixed in time, the Iloilo City Trade Mission and Investment Forum, which is scheduled from June 1 to 9, would be without the 2018 festival champions, Tribu Panayanon of Iloilo City National High School.
The Dinagyang champions, alongside Hubon Manguguma of Guimaras’ Mangghan Festival will be participating in the biggest Filipino-American Independence Day parade on the east coast. Around 100,000 are expected to attend the parade, which runs along New York City’s Madison Avenue.
The visa problems arose when only 11 Tribu Panayanon members received the proper travel documents.
“They had to recruit warriors from Tribu Salgnon, who already have visas, in order to complete the team,” she explained.
Tribu Salgnon was named Dinagyang Festival champion in 2016 and participated in the 118th edition of the parade.
Juele-Jalandoni, who was responsible for bringing the two festival champions to the US, confirmed, “[The Dinagyang and Manggahan contingent] will arrive on May 31 (US time).”
Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jose ‘Joe III’ Espinosa II and his wife, Gina Sarabia-Espinosa, will be arriving in New York City on Tuesday, May 29 (US time)
The Espinosas will be accompanied by Iloilo City Tourism Officer Junel Ann Divinagracia; Executive Assistant Enrique ‘Rex’ Aguado; Local Economic Enterprise Office chief Ariel ‘Aye’ Castaneda; fashion designers Jackie Penalosa and Bo Parcon; journalists Florence Hibionada of The Daily Guardian, Tara Yap of the Manila Bulletin, and Herbert Vego of Panay News; West Visayas State University-College of Mass Communications dean, Dr. Carmencita ‘Menchie’ Robles, among others, and will grace the opening of the Ilonggo fashion and jewelry exhibit at the Philippine Center Gallery, located at 556 Fifth Avenue, on June 1.
Representatives at the Iloilo City Trade Mission are tasked with “introducing” their city with New York City, Washington, DC, and Fairfax, Virginia, by showcasing local jewelers, fashion designers, and property developers.
The mayor will host a University of the Philippines alumni event on June 2; while the annual parade, spearheaded by the PIDCI, kicks off the following day at 12:00 noon, which will be followed by cultural presentations.
The mayor and several representatives from the private sector will also hold the Iloilo City Trade and Investment Forum at the Philippine Center.
On June 5, New York-based entertainment producer Jhett Tolentino, originally from Barangay Calumpang in the Molo district of Iloilo City, will lead a Broadway tour, starting at 7:00 p.m. The next day, the University of North America in Fairfax, Virginia will host an investment forum.
The Philippine Embassy in Washington DC will host a childhood education student on the morning of June 7, along with an investment forum that evening.
The Iloilo contingent will then tour Washington DC on June 8.
They’re visit closes with the Philippine Independence Day Ball at the Hilton Meadowlands, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 9.
Members of the Iloilo Trade Mission depart for the Philippines on June 10./WDJ