Iloilo’s Finest - Events, Food, Places

Both local and foreign tourists had a glimpse of the participating tribes for the 2008 Dinagyang Festival Ati-Competition when the opening salvo blasted off along selected streets of Iloilo City last Friday (January 18). Dinagyang is observed by Ilonggos every fourth week-end of January in honor of Senor Sto. Nino. This year, the festivity revolves on the theme “One heart, one mind for Senor Sto. Nino.”

Ben Jimena, Iloilo City Tourism Officer and Festival’s Executive Director said the participation of the tribes in the opening salvo as well as in other 2008 Dinagyang activities determined by the Dinagyang Foundation is one of the requirements of the competition.

The Dinagyang Ati-Competition is one of the highlights of the festivities where tribes composed of dark-brown colored warriors perform in music dominantly using drums in identified judging areas.

Unlike in the previous years, the 20 competing tribes on Sunday, January 27, will perform in four judging areas instead of five. These judging areas are the Freedom Grandstand, Provincial Capitol, Quezon-Ledesma and Ma. Clara Rotunda.

The 20 competing tribes are Tribu Ivatan, Baryohan, San Pedro, Binhi, Hamili, Paghidaet, Angola, Kalubihan, Molave, Ilonganon, Pag-asa, Silak, Pana-ad, Atub-Atub, Himala, Familia Sagrada, Aninipay, Pari-anon, Ang Taga Jaro and Bantu.

For two years in a row, Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival had been cited by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) as Best Tourism Event in the country. It has also received international recognitions such as given by the United Nations Development Programme in a CityNet conference in Katmandu, Nepal as Best Practice in the Promotion of the Localization of the Millennium Development Goals and by the Asian Development Bank as Best Practice in Public and Private Cooperation.

Last year, Dinagyang also emerged first runner-up in the Aliwan Fiesta 2007 held in Manila and awarded Best in Music in the Western Visayas Tourism Assembly held in Bacolod City. (PIA)

Next: Sandbar Island Beach Resort in Bolobadiangan Concepcion Iloilo

Certainly, you and your family don’t want to miss the fun the holiday season brings - all the merriment, food and excitement. In line with this, the Department of Health (DOH) has the following health tips for this holiday season:

• Plan Christmas activities for yourself and your family to prevent tension and stress.

• Take care of yourself and your family against changes in temperature. Children and adults may become susceptible to cough, colds and fever. If your cough, colds and fever is more than five days, consult your nearest health station.

• Prepare a well-balanced Noche Buena and Media Noche meals. Make sure that vegetables and fruits are on the table together with your traditional ham and queso de bola.

• Be kind to your heart. Eat a moderate amount of nutritious foods to sustain your daily activities.

• Drink plenty of liquids. Drink plenty of water and fruit juices to facilitate excretion.

• Have enough sleep. Give yourself enough sleep so that the mind and body can rest.

• Avoid crowded areas because bacteria that cause diseases multiply and spread easily. Airy and well-ventilated areas are essential to healthy living.

• Use environment-friendly Christmas decors that cost less and are not fire hazards. Save decors for next year and store them in a safe place.

• Buy toys with no pointed or sharp edges; nor too small toys that can cause choking.

• Do not use fireworks and firecrackers during the Holidays. Make some noise even without fireworks and firecrackers.

Finally DOH advises, “Stay alive and whole for the coming year”. (PIA)

Next: Dinagyang Festival fires opening salvo

This year’s observance of the Bonifacio Day, a regular holiday nationwide, remains on Friday, November 30, 2007.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita by order of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on August 6, 2007 per Presidential Proclamation No. 1353 declared Friday, November 30, a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Bonifacio Day.

(more…)

Iloilo City (23 November) — “Biotechnology sustains increased crop yields and farm productivity enhances the quality, value and sustainability of crops for food and other uses that are complementary to modern agriculture,” President Gloria Macapagal said as she declared the last week of November of every year as “National Biotechnology Week”. (more…)

How’d to all of you. It’s been awhile coz I have been under the weather for some time (translation –> I’ve been sick).

I have updated the site structure of this site. Making things easier for all of you. You can now access Events, Places, or Food in the navigation bar so everything is categorized according to topics.

If you have something in mind, feel free to drop me a word using the comments section under each entry.

Salamat guid!

Next: November’s Biotech Week