Fewer props in Dinagyang 2019?

Prof. Eric Divinagracia, an advisory council member of the Alliance of Dinagyang Tribes in Iloilo, said the numbrer of props to be used in the Dinagyang Festival 2019 must be regulated.

“Kung pwede mabuhinan or i-regulate ang props. Ang props definitely innovation and may spectacle effect pero problemado kay gahinay ang hulag kag gaprevent sa visuals sang performers,”  Divinagracia said during the first Iloilo Dinagyang Rhythm and Vibes Conference 2018 on Sept. 26 at the Diamond Jubilee Hall, DepEd Compound on Mabini Street, City Proper, Iloilo City.

According to Divinagracia, there is a need to revisit the origins of the festival to know the aesthetics behind it.

“Hindi lang siya tani ‘props festival’, makita ta tani ang dagyang kag ang Dinagyang Festival mismo. Mabalik ta sa origins kag kung ano ang aesthetic didto,” he added.

However, Brian Francisco of Team Dagatnon said that the different aspects in the presentation must be balanced.

“Dapat balance hindi lang puro saot, dapat may props man. Pati ang choreography dapat i-enlarge ang paminsaron para makapanumdom sang mga bag-o ngamovement,” said Francisco.

Divinagracia wants to bring back the identity of Dinagyang Festival by incorporating concepts and storyline that are culturally genuine.

“Una ang origin, basi masulod naton ang Ati and Panay Bukidnon. Then ang aton Christianization, pag abot ni Sto. Nino highlighting ang aton Catholic heritage. Third is modernization pag-embrace naton sa makabagong panahon pwede naton mainclude Iloilo and the world,” he added.

Misaligned cultural appropriations and trendy innovations in tribe presentations that adversely affectes the evolution of Dinagyang were noticed by festival organizers, according to Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI).

The Iloilo Dinagyang Rhythm and Vibes Conference 2018 gathered choreographers, school principals, tribe managers, artistic directors, music arrangers, and different stakeholders for a workshop on music, choreography, costume and props, design, visual production, and resource management.

IDFI organized the conference for the Dinagyang groups to have a deeper understanding of Ilonggo heritage and history and to assure a more culturally authentic and traditionally relevant Ilonggo-based presentation of the annual festival.

In his speech, IDFI chairman Ramon Cua Locsin mentioned that they are challenged to ensure the authenticity of the festival year after year.

“After 50 years, we are all challenged to make sure that the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival will remain true to its core as an Ilonggo’s way of thanksgiving thru merry making,” he noted.

With only less than four months to prepare for the festival, Divinagracia is hoping that they can craft a policy to be included in the guidelines for the festival at the end of the conference.

“Lantawon ta ang aesthetics sa different aspects and from there we can craft a policy in the sense nga masulod siya sa guidelines but basi indi ta makaya sa 2019 pero pwede sa 2020. Indi na siya overnight na process it’s a work in progress,” he mentioned.

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

Special thanks to: