Dinagyang Festival is Iloilo City’s major January festival held in honor of the Santo Niño, the Holy Child Jesus. Centered on the Ati competition, tribes in elaborate costumes perform choreographed street dances to pounding drumbeats, celebrating devotion, Ilonggo culture, and the story of the Ati people.
The festival fills Iloilo City streets with music, color, and large crowds, and its tribal competition is widely regarded as one of the highlights of the Philippine festival calendar each January. Dinagyang grew from a parish celebration into a city-wide event that draws visitors from across the country.
The photo and slideshow on this page are from the 2014 Dinagyang Festival Ati competition trip to Iloilo City.
Dinagyang Festival Ati Competetion
Robin Pinzon
For another gathering of Philippine festivals featured on this site, see Aliwan Fiesta 2010.