Countdown to 2011 - Iloilo city welcomes the New Year

Iloilo City welcomes year 2011 with a blast!

The Iloilo City Government that will lead the synchronized countdown for the coming of the new year wich will be accompanied by a musical fireworks display from a barge at the Iloilo River along Efraim Treñas Boulevard, Mandurriao district.

This event will also ask for the cooperation of radio music stations here to synchronize their sounds with that of the fireworks during the New Year's celebration along the river.

“Our main thrust is to make sure that our people won’t splurge on firecrackers, the reason why we are holding the celebration in just one venue where can all converge,” City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said.

Also, there will be a food festival in Treñas Blvd. where party will continue after the countdown.

The New Year’s Eve 2011 Countdown is organized by the Iloilo City Government in partnership with GMA Network TV and Scorpion Fireworks Iloilo.

2011 Miss Iloilo Dinagyang Candidates

Twelve candidates representing schools in Iloilo City will vie for the Miss Iloilo Dinagyang 2011 title as a major highlight of the Dinagyang Festival in January 2011. This year’s edition is organized by SPPR Reel Productions.

The candidates are from 16 to 24 years old, 5'4" and above in height, and have passed the rigid screening conducted by selection committee headed by international fashion designer Renee Salud. Most of them are college students.

The coronation pageant of Miss Dinagyang 2011 will be on January 18, 2011 with pageant host, actor Derek Ramsay.

The grand winner will win a trip for two at Thailand as the city's ambassadress of goodwill aside from many prizes.

The local media also set the schedule of the search for Darling of the Press with a formal presentation of candidates on January 14, 2011 at SM City.

The 12 candidates that will vie for the most coveted crown of the year are Gretchen Grandest of the University of San Agustin, Sunshine de Guzman of AMA Computer College, Sigrid Grace Flores of the University of the Philippines, Rain Catnapping of Riverview Adventist Academy, Krishna Lei Dingo of the West Vises State University, Sofia Lyn Ochoa of College de San Jose, Kchyrziahchayne Dynelle Dinopol of University of the Philippines in the Visayas, Nadaine Broñola of Central Philippine University, Leonor Faunillo of USA, Samantha Marie Amparo and Zyra Grace Vedad both of West Visayas State University.

Iloilo Film Festival in time with the 2011 Dinagyang festival celebrations

Selected independent films will be shown during Iloilo City's week-long Dinagyang Festival 2011.

This was announced by City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog after he met with Undersecretary Briccio Santos, chairman of the Film Development Council of the

Philippines under the Office of the President on Tuesday, November 30, to finalize the plan of holding the Iloilo Film Festival on January 19-21, 2011, in time for the Dinagyang celebration.

Santos said the Iloilo Film Festival is in celebration of the first Sineng Pambansa to be held at SM City cinemas. All the films are full length and have been previewed, screened and recognized in competitions and film festivals abroad. However, they have not yet been shown in any local or national theaters or cinema houses.

The 12 films available for viewing are "Halaw," "Red Shoes," "Lola," "Emir," "Donor," "Enkuentro," "Bakal Boys," "Kano," "Astig" and "Himpapawid (Manila Skies)".

“Yanggaw” by Richard Somes is the sole Ilonggo feature included in the film fest.

Santos said the Film Development Council came to be through Republic Act 9167, which seeks to set and establish a national film archive made by Filipino filmmakers and to develop and promote locally produced films that meet international standards.

The country's premier actors among them are Coco Martin in "Astig" (directed by Giuseppe Bede Sampedro) and Rosanna Roces in "Lola" (helmed by premier director Brillante Mendoza).

On the other hand, Mabilog said that the selection of Iloilo City to host the film festival is a manifestation of national filmmakers' awareness that culture and movies are alive in Iloilo.

Iloilo has several independent filmmakers and directors of. Among these are lawyer Joenar Pueblo, Oskie Nava, Kevin Piamonte and the late Quin Baterna.

Mabilog said he is happy to note that the University of the Philippines Visayas has recently been producing short indie films in the local dialect Hiligaynon to showcase the moral values, tradition and culture of the Ilonggos.

The UPV indie film producers are also expected to showcase their works during the Dinagyang Festival.

Spend christmas in Iloilo

Molo Plaza (Iloilo City)
photo credit: Hawili Hurom

This season is the time of joy, reunions and family bonding. It's the best time of the year to meet old friends and to visit colorful and well-lighted parks and plazas with carefully designed light adornments for the celebration of Christmas. Experience Iloilo brings you some of the best places to visit this Christmas all over Iloilo.

In Iloilo City, the City Government of Iloilo launched 'A fair in December' last November 19, 2010 which highlighted the switching-on of Christmas lights in all of the public plazas in each city-district. The major thoroughfares of the city are at the same time adorned with lanterns sponsored by various business firms in Iloilo City.

The Iloilo Provincial Government at the same time decorated the Iloilo Provincial Capitol with elegant lights and Christmas adornments.

Lights and Music Festival at Central

The two most popular areas in the City of Iloilo are the Angelicum School and the Central Philippine University, both in Jaro district.

In Central Iloilo, the town of Pototan is the most visited in the region during Christmas season because of its spectacular Christmas designs and lights exhibits. Dubbed as the Christmas Capital of the Visayas, Pototan is celebrating its yearly Iwag festival which starts on December 16 each year. This makes the Municipality of Pototan to be one of the favorite places to visit, every December, in Western Visayas.

Other popular destinations in central Iloilo also include the light exhibits in the municipalities of Cabatuan and Janiuay while in the southern part of Iloilo is the Municipality of Guimbal.

Iwag Festival (Pototan Iloilo)

Going up north is the "Adopt and Light a Tree" project of the Municipality of Balasan which already runs for more than a decade. Balasan is the popular Christmas destination among the Northern Towns of Iloilo and other neighboring places in Capiz. This year, an added attraction is made; a giant Christmas tree competition among its 24 barangays was revived after almost 11 years since it was first initiated. The 'Adopt and Light a tree' is now being participated by government agencies and business sector in the said municipality.

Environment, cultural themes to highlight Kasadyahan 2011

Tribu Kasag of Banate Iloilo, 2010 Kasadyahan Champion

The 2011 Kasadyahan Festival of Iloilo’s famous Dinagyang celebration will focus on environmental and cultural themes.

Dr. Eden Deriada, chairman of the Kasadayahan competition, said participating towns will have to incorporate environmental awareness and or cultural aspects in their presentation on January 22, 2011.

The Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) on the other hand has increased the prizes and subsidies for the Kasadyahan festival tribes to encourage them to perform better and present the best of their respective towns, she said.

The champion for the Kasadyahan 2011 event will receive P120,000 plus trophy. The first runner will get P60,000; second runner-up, P45,000; and third runner-up, P35,000.

The subsidy is now P130,000 for old tribes, while P100,000 for new participants.

Tribu Mandurrianon performs during the Kasadyahan 2010

Deriada said 10 municipalities have already confirmed participation in the festival. These include the Tribu Binanog of the municipality of Lambunao; Patubas of Barotac Viejo; Kasag of Banate; Tultugan of Maasin; Pantat of Zarraga; and Tinuom of Cabatuan.

Other towns with contingents are all first time participants. These are Tribu Pandayan of the municipality of Badiangan; Pagdihon of Dingle; Kagayunon of Alimodian; and Hiliusa of Barotac Nuevo.

Most of the towns will send the winners of their respective festivals for the Kasadyahan. This is to showcase their indigenous and cultural heritage during the event, Deriada said.