Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas will administer today the oath-taking of the Board of Trustees of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) at Hotel del Rio in Iloilo City.
Tribu Ilonganon, last year’s champion will perform a ‘special number’ as preview to Dinagyang 2020 theme, “Perfect Vision: Celebrating the Ilongo Spirit in Honor of Senior Santo Nino.”
Dinagyang 2020 poses both a challenge and an opportunity for IFFI.
For the first time in many years the new body is tasked to run the iconic event that has gained local following as well as recognition elsewhere.
How city hall would disburse the annual money ‘assistance’ this year which could reach P20 million to a yet unaccredited non-government foundation that is the IFFI seems a real hurdle.
There is also reference to name ownership. The now moribund Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation holds registered ownership of “Dinagyang Festival,” along with related activities like Miss Dinagyang.
Already the plan to set ‘Kasadyahan Festival’ separate from Dinagyang has been firmed up. The IFFI could likewise trim off the dozen or so activities that ride on but have no relevance to the main event.
Today’s preview serves as front act to an elaborate launching of Dinagyang 2020 on October 16, 2019. /jft
PHOTO: Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas; Tribu Ilonganon, 2019 Dinagyang champion.
