ILOILO DINAGYANG 2017 The Best Tourism Event of the Philippines

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History of Iloilo Dinagyang Festival

Dinagyang began after Rev. Fr. Ambrosio Galindez of a local Roman Catholic parish introduced the
devotion to Santo Niño in November 1967. In 1968, a replica of the original image of the Santo Niño
de Cebu was brought to Iloilo by Fr. Sulpicio Enderez as a gift to the Parish of San Jose. The faithful, led
by members of Confradia del Santo Niño de Cebu, Iloilo Chapter, worked to give the image a fitting
reception starting at the Iloilo Airport and parading down the streets of Iloilo.

In the beginning, the observance of the feast was confined to the parish. The Confradia patterned the
celebration on the Ati-atihan of Ibajay, Aklan, where natives dance in the streets, their bodies covered
with soot and ashes, to simulate the Atis dancing to celebrate the sale of Panay. It was these tribal
groups who were the prototype of the present festival.

In 1977, the Marcos government ordered the various regions of the Philippines to come up with
festivals or celebrations that could boost tourism and development. The City of Iloilo readily identified
the Iloilo Ati-atihan as its project. At the same time the local parish could no longer handle the growing
challenges of the festival.

The Dinagyang is divided into three Major events: Ati-Ati Street Dancing, Kasadyahan Street Dancing
and Miss Dinagyang.

Today, the main part of the festival consists of a number of "tribes", called "tribus", who are supposed
to be Ati tribe members dancing in celebration. It should be noted that no actual Ati are involved nor
do they benefit in any way from this event. There are a number of requirements, including that the
performers must paint their skin brown and that only indigenous materials can be used for the
costumes. All dances are performed to drum music. Many tribes are organized by the local high
schools. Some tribes receive a subsidiary from the organizers and recruit private sponsors, with the
best tribes receiving the most. The current Ati population of Iloilo is not involved with any of the tribes
nor are they involved in the festival in any other way.

Dinagyang was voted as the best Tourism Event for 2006, 2007 and 2008 by the Association of
Tourism Officers in the Philippines. It is the first festival in the world to get the support of the United
Nations for the promotion of the Millennium Development Goals, and cited by the Asian Development
Bank as Best Practice on government, private sector & NGO cooperatives.
The Iloilo Dinagyang Hall of Fame
Dinagyang Festival 2016 Champion Tribu Salognon

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Dinagyang Tribes Circle of Winners (1970-Present)

2016 - Tribu Salognon
2015 - Tribu Panayanon
2014 - Tribu Panayanon
2013 - Tribu Panayanon
2012 - Tribu Pan-ay
2011 - Tribu Pan-ay
2010 - Tribu Paghidaet
2009 - Tribu Bola-Bola
2008 - Tribu Paghidaet
2007 - Tribu Ilonganon
2006 - Tribu Ilonganon
2005 - Tribu Silak(Open Category) Tribu Pag-Asa(Barangay Category)
2004 - Tribu Bola-Bola(Open Category) Tribu Atub-Atub(Barangay Category)
2003 - Tribu Paghidaet(Open Category) Tribu Atub-Atub(Barangay Category)
2002 - Tribu Paghidaet(Open Category) Tribu Molave(Barangay Category)
2001 - Tribu Bola-Bola(Open Category) Tribu Molave(Barangay Category)
2000 - Tribu Bola-Bola(Open Category) Tribu Atub-Atub(Barangay Category)
1999 - Tribu Bola-Bola(Open Category) Tribu Pana-ad(Barangay Category)
1998 - Tribu Bola-Bola(Open Category) Tribu Hamili(Barangay Category)
1997 - Tribu Bola-Bola
1996 - Tribu Bola-Bola
1995 - Tribu Binirayan
1994 - Tribu Bola-Bola
1993 - Tribu Panaad
1992 - Tribu Sagasa
1991 - Tribu Sagasa
1990 - Tribu Sagasa
1989 - Tribu Binirayan
1988 - Tribu Kongo
1987 - Tribu Guimbal
1986 - Tribu Kongo
1985 - Tribu Kongo
1984 - Atub-Atub
1983 - Tribu Binirayan
1982 - Atub-Atub
1981 - Tribu Molave
1980 - Tribu Himaya
1979 - No Specific Winner
1978 - Tribu Atub-Atub
1976 - Tribu Hamili
1975 - Tribu Hamili
1974 - Last Warriors
1973 - Mamau Tribe