National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairman Felipe de Leon, who was in Iloilo recently as a workshop speaker at the Dinagyang Rhythm and Vibes Conference V, said the next Iloilo Dinagyang Festival will offer more features to attract more spectators.
He said the annual observance should focus on religion and art, calling it “a devotional festival celebrated in the most artistic way.”
“We held this workshop to make sure it will have a focus,” de Leon explained. “Without a clear focus, people will be confused.”
The NCCA official also recommended more participation from local indigenous tribes, highlighting non-competing tribes such as various ati tribes and other indigenous peoples.
This year, Tribu Ilonganon of Jalandoni Memorial National High School won the Dagyang tribes dance competition while Guimaras won the Fiesta Pilipinas: Kasadyahan regional cultural competition, both of which are official events of the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival.
“This is a choreographers’ festival,” he noted. “Competing tribes are artistically prepared.”/WDJ