Expect a more authentic Dinagyang Festival ‘19

TRIBU Panayanon of Iloilo City National High School, the champion of the Ati-ati dance contest of the 2018 Dinagyang Festival perform on Jan 28, 2018. The Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. vowed to showcase a more authentic festival in 2019 and future editions. (Photo by Al Destacamento)

“THE REAL McCoy.”

In preparation for the 51st year of the Dinagyang Festival in 2019, the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) assured a more culturally authentic and traditionally relevant Ilonggo-based presentation of the annual festival.

The IDFI, in coordination with industry experts, organized the first Iloilo Dinagyang Rhythm and Vibes Conference 2018 for participating Dinagyang groups to enhance a deeper understanding of Ilonggo heritage and history.

The two-part conference gathered hundred of participants from Dinagyang performance members which include school principals, tribe managers, artistic directors, choreographers, dance masters, music arrangers, costume and props designers,

The first part of the conference on Sept 9-12, 2018 culminated in lectures and workshops on music and choreography.

Meanwhile, workshop on costume and props design, visual production, and resource management was held on Sept. 26 at the Diamond Jubilee Hall, DepEd Compound on Mabini Street, City Proper, Iloilo City.

IDFI chairman Ramon Cua Locsin emphasized that the workshop will help improve the tribe dance competition.

“After 50 years, we are all challenged to make sure that the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival remains true to its core as an Ilonggo’s way of thanksgiving thru merry making. Naga-taas angperformance sang mga tribu but we should have a workshop para ma-improve ang dance and music and to make the tribe dance competition more exciting,” said Locsin.

Dinagyang Festival has become the standard of excellence in cultural and tourism events because of its innovative productions and creative performance that have influenced the presentation of other throughout the country.

According to IDFI, the festival translations of Dinagyang dilute the originality and message of the cultural performances.

The festival organizer also noticed misaligned cultural appropriations and trendy innovations in tribe presentations that adversely affect the evolution of Dinagyang, jeopardizing its sustainability and excellent edge from other local festivals and cultural presentations.

LACK OF IDENTITY

Prof. Eric Divinagracia, an advisory council member of the Alliance of Dinagyang Tribes in Iloilo, lamented that one of the challenges that they hope to address in the conference is Dinagyang Festival’s lack of identity.

“Dapat i-identify naton ang aton identity and dapat ma express na sa aton storyline. Ano ang istorya naton nga gusto naton ipakita, paano naton na ipakita sa hulag, sound, and visual. Ano gid bala ang aton festival ano ang ginhalinan kag diin siya padulon?” he questioned.

Annie Sartorio, judging committee chair of the festival, said Dinagyang is an “influencer” of many other festivals in the country.

“Biskan diin subong nga festival, Dinagyang naman ila. Gusto namon may identity gid ang aton nga steps,” Sartorio noted.

Divinagracia said that they are also looking into adding value motifs in the tribe competition.

“Aside from structure, ginaistoryahan man naton mabutangan value motifs, pwede man naton ipakita ang aton pagselebrar, pagtilipun, pag-harvest, pagpangadi, basi amo na eventually ang mahatag focus or storyline sa aton mga tribo nga hindi lang tanan animals ang motif,” he added.

At the end of the conference, Divinagracia hopes that they can create policies to be included in the guidelines for the upcoming Dinagyang Festival.

“Lantawon ta ang aesthetics sa different aspects and from there we can craft a policy in the sense nga masulod siya sa guidelines, nga makita naton amo ni nga mga standards, nga tunog, visuals, and patterns and even ang storyline,” said Divinagracia.

With only less than four months to prepare for the festival, he added that the policy will be included in 2020 if not next year.

“Basi indi ta makaya sa 2019 pero pwede sa 2020. Kung hindi pa kaya, I believe it will evolve as long as it goes somewhere and it has direction. Hindi na siya overnight na process it’s a work in progress. Pero subong importante nga madefine naton kung ano ang aton festival, ang aton sound, hulag, ang iya nga dagyang, kag vibe,” said Divinagracia.

One of the Dinagyang choreographers, Brian Francisco of Team Dagatnon said that they will be applying the inputs that they learned from the conference in the upcoming tribe competition.

“Naka-learn kami bag-o nga technique and idea nga pwede gid magamit sa 2019 and i-adapt na naton despite less than four months na lang ang Dinagyang,” Francisco said.

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

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