By CESAR JOLITO III

Cadiz City officially opens the 52nd Dinagsa Festival today, ushering in 10 days of religious devotion, cultural pride and festive activities anchored on the city’s deep faith in Señor Sto. Niño de Cadiz.

Mayor Salvador Escalante, Jr. said this year’s Dinagsa is designed to offer fresh experiences while staying true to its spiritual roots.

He emphasized that the annual celebration reflects the city’s gratitude for the blessings and guidance of the Child Jesus, whom he described as Cadiz’s protector and provider.

The festival kicks off with the Patikanay Drumbeating Competition at the Cadiz Grandstand at 5:00 p.m., featuring homegrown drum groups competing to create what city officials call the authentic “Tunog Cadiz.”

Escalante likened the event to an indigenous form of “rock and roll,” showcasing local talent and creativity.

From January 16 to 26, Dinagsa will feature a mix of spiritual, cultural, sports, agricultural, fisheries, and educational activities, alongside celebrity concerts and other major attractions.

One of the most anticipated events is the coronation of Miss Dinagsa 2026 on January 23, which will crown a young woman embodying Cadiz’s beauty and resilience.

Earlier on the same day, the Paralympiada, a special fiesta for children with special needs, will take center stage.

Organized by the Department of Education – Division of Cadiz, the event will gather special education schools from Negros Island Region and Panay, continuing a Dinagsa tradition that has run for over two decades.

Major festival highlights unfold on January 24 with the traditional Diana at dawn, followed by cultural street performances such as Sayaw Pagdayaw and Sinaot Cadiznon.

A fluvial parade at Banquerohan Port in the afternoon is expected to draw thousands of Sto. Niño devotees, continuing a religious tradition observed for more than 50 years.

Street parties and fireworks displays will cap the day’s celebrations.

The festival reaches its peak on January 25 with the Dinagsa Festival Street Dance Competition, including the Ati street dance, along major city routes.

This will be followed by “Lamhitanay sa Dalan,” Cadiz’s signature street celebration where revelers splash each other with colorful, non-toxic paint — an event city officials describe as unique to Cadiz and symbolic of unity and communal joy.

Dinagsa concludes on January 26 with a Misa Fiesta at the Sto. Niño Parish Church, marking the formal close of the festivities.

Escalante stressed that beyond the spectacle, Dinagsa remains a celebration of faith.

“Above all, Dinagsa is not just a festival — it is a way of strengthening and sustaining our devotion to Señor Sto. Niño,” he said, adding that Cadiz’s progress and identity are inseparable from its patron./CJ, WDJ