The people of Guimbal invites everyone to witness their one of a kind festival, the Bantayan Festival. Bantayan Festival tells a story by re-enacting how the Christian settlers of Guimbal fought against the pirates.

The municipality of Guimbal headed by their dynamic municipal mayor, Hon. Richard S. Garin is inviting everyone to celebrate with them the 2007 BANTAYAN Festival starting on March 27 with their Drum, Float, Street Dancing Competitions and the Search for Miss Bantayan Festival; the Porma Balas, Pinta Lawas, Fluvial Parade, the Re-enactment of the Moro Raid and the Bantayan Video Festival takes the limelight on March 29; and the colorful Bantayan Tribal Dance Drama Competition on March 31, 2007.

There is no better way to get to know the people of Guimbal than through their BANTAYAN Festival. It is the moment when the community strives to put on a splendid cultural presentation, not only for themselves but also for those who come from afar to admire and enjoy. Its dramatic presentation and excitement, with greater preparations and more spectacular props each year is an attempt to save its historic event in danger of extinction---the origin is the battle between the natives of Guimbal and the Muslim pirates. The format of the presentation is the theatrical enactment of attacks a battle enactment with skirmishes and dances, the victory of the people in the community against the Muslim pirates, and finally homage to the patron saint. Prominent in the presentation is the use of the prop guimba, believed to where the name of the town was derived from, it was ancient instrument of the Spanish Panayanons that resembled a drum and is beaten by hand, serving as a warning to the community for an incoming raid. The festival is the celebration of the people and it never fails to draw visitors throughout the province and the other side of the region.
Via iloilo.gov.ph

Passi City is holding their 9th Foundation Anniversary and is inviting everyone to their Pintados de Pasi Festival that started last monday, March 11, 2007. Highlight will be on Sunday March 18.

With the theme “Passinhon nga Kultura, Sakdagon Ta” on its 9th Foundation Anniversary, the people of Passi City led by their municipal mayor, Hon. ELYZER C. CHAVEZ is inviting everyone to come and witness their many other special events enjoyed during the week-long celebration, including Garden Show and Food Festival on March 11, its opening day; the Karosa Parada and Carabao-Painting Contest with the Grand Coronation Night of the Search for Bb. Pintados on March 16; Sinadya sa Suba and the Pinta Lawas Contest of March 17; and the much awaited Tribe Competition on March 18. With this wealth of unique cultural and recreational events, Pintados de Pasi is surely one of the country’s top tourism festivals.

The Pintados de Pasi Festival, in Passi City, central of Iloilo province, is perhaps one of the best known and established festivals of the Visayan region that have evolved through the years. It has played a big part in the lives of most Passinhons. It is the most popular spectator cultural event and the most popular for the community that has a large following. Theatrical-like street dancing performances are a celebrated part of the Pintados festivity that is characterized by heavy and aggressive body movements. Here, performers adorned in traditional body tattoo with elaborate geometrical designs in their body, including their arms, legs and torso dramatizes stories in which the towns’ ancestral beings laid down every feature of the area, especially, their way of life. Source: Iloilo.gov.ph

Tribu Tultugan of Maasin and Tribu Kahilwayan of Sta. Barbara are the two most consistent crowd favorites according to Aksyon Radyo's survey of audiences in each judging area. However, these are not conclusive of the final official results that will be announced tomorrow - Sunday - night in Freedom Grandstand. The survey is a sort of an exit interview.

Tribu Tultugan and Tribu Kahilwayan showed very good performances in front of judges and audiences in 5 judging areas it's really hard to tell who will win. For now, it's anybody's game. Though, it looks like Tultugan has a bit of lead over Kahilwayan. I'm leaning towards Tribu Kahilwayan due to their refreshing use of drum and bugle band for their musical score.

The other two tribes who are also taking a crack at the top spot are Tribu Mandurriaonon and Tribu Pahinis. Tribu Pahinis came all the way from the province of Antique.

I'm going to the Dinagyang Festival tomorrow to watch the increasingly competitive Kasadyahan contest and on Sunday for the ultimate ati tribe competition. This was all planned a week ago so work-related stuffs are going to a halt starting tonight. I'm already fully aware of things I need to do and bring with me to the city. This is a whole day affair. No, make that a 2-days, non-stop, affair. Just so you know. The festival doesn't end right after the contests end. Party people are not going to sleep this weekend.

Some things to bring and remember.

• A cellphone and adequate loads to last you two days. You, definitely, want to keep in touch with the rest of the gangs. It's no fun dancing and drinking alone.
• Anything that shoots photos, for the world to see the party-animal in you. No, really. Apart from taking colorful tribe uniforms/costume, you need to show off your own. Come on, max-out your flickr account.
• Extra clothes. Unless you're totally comfortable drenched in your own sweat or that of the person beside you while watching the parade under the sweltering heat of the sun, it's ok wear the same shirt for the whole day. On this day and time, stripping is frowned upon so please don't.
• Cash. You're to a party place. You're not going to just stand there and watch all day, do you? They don't give away free drinks around here anymore - in Kalibo's Ati-atihan festival, they used to. Buy some drinks and join the fun.
• Don't bring weapons of any kind. Otherwise, you risk getting caught and spend time in jail rather than in streets. Don't be carried away. Although, there will be warriors roaming the city streets, they're all for the show. We're not at war my friend.
• Formulate lame excuses for not coming home or going home very early the next day. Did I say some people are not going sleep over the weekend? I think I mean they're not going home this weekend. Most of them will be sleeping for sure from all the alcohols they'll take.

These are just some that I can think of right now. Care to add yours?

A total of 20 participating tribes will be competing for the major awards at stake in this year’s Dinagyang Festival.

The tribes committee of the organizing Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation said the tribes competition will now compete under one category.

The twenty tribes that have confirmed to join are Tribus Silak, Angola, Atub-Atub, Pana-ad, Paghidaet, Pag-asa, Kalubihan, Aninipay, Baryohanon, Ilonganon, Himala, Pari-anon, Hamili, Halimau, San Pedro, Bantu, “Ang Taga Jaro,” Dagyaw-Ta, Familia Sagrada and Molave.

Major thoroughfares in Iloilo City will be closed tomorrow afternoon for the Opening Salvo of Dinagyang 2007 Ati. The final count of 20 tribes will be traversing the dinagyang parade route. Mr Ben Jimena of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) over an interview with a local radio station said that the tribes, even though not in their contest uniforms which are kept secret until contest day, will be wearing colorful attires for tomorrows parade. Definitely, the parade will be a sign of things to come.

Press Conference Ms. Iloilo Dinagyang Festival 2007

Venue:
Amigo Terrace Hotel Anthurium
Delgado St., Iloilo City

When we say Dinagyang the first thing that comes to our mind is merrymaking, partying, or ati-ati tribe contest. The Dinagyang Festival may be the best party event of the year here in Iloilo City. But there's more to it. To better enjoy Dinagyang, it's best to know a bit of the history of the festival. Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. liturgical committee chair June Rivera have some insights of how it started.

If the upcoming Dinagyang festival is not enough reason for you to book your flight to Iloilo this month of January, you better read Iloilo City Boy's invitation to visit Iloilo. He had laid down a sort of itinerary for first time tourists to make sure they'll never waste time while their here.

Thank heavens for sites like Dinagyang.com I finally got hold of this year's Dinagyang schedule of activities. So for those folks wanting to experience the ultimate festival in the Philippines better read this and book your flights.

Dinagyang 2007 Schedule of Activities

January 22-23, 2007
Final Rehearsal, Dinagyang Ati Tribes
Dinagyang Parade Route
January 22-28, 2007
Trade and Exhibits
SM City

January 23, 2007
10:00a.m-12:00nn
Healing Mass for the sick, Aged and Abandoned Children plus Lunch