Former senator Dick Gordon proposed that the Department of Tourism (DOT) create a sort of super bowl of street dancing when impressed by the performances of participating tribes in the Ati-atihan competition during the Dinagyang festival here on Sunday.

Gordon, also former DOT secretary, said the festive tribal dance competition here exhibited great choreography and creativity that could compete with the festivals of Sinulog of Cebu City, Ati-atihan of Kalibo, and Masskara of Bacolod City.

He said the super bowl concept would bring the participating tribes to the different places in the country where they would compete.

“In this way, everybody goes to each town and many people could see their performances,” Gordon said.

Noting the thousands of foreign and domestic tourists who came to see the yearly Dinagyang festival, Gordon suggested that local governments and the DOT make a tour package to other city and provincial destinations that could be visited by tourists after viewing the tribe performances.

“Tourism means job generation so if tourists could go to these places then people would have income and employment,” Gordon contended.

The Dinagyang Festival, which is being held every fourth Sunday of January, draws thousands of spectators yearly that provide economic opportunity for sellers of food, masks, necklaces and other souvenir items.

TRENDING

“Dinagyang leveled up. It was trending on Twitter (or talk of the town on the popular social networking site). It was perfect, seamless and amazing,” stressed Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog of the successful staging of the 45th year Sapphire anniversary of the festival.

Dinagyang became more popular in terms of participation and performance – it is a living, dynamic and growing festival, said City Tourism Officer Ben Jimena.

This year’s champion Tribu Panayanon of Iloilo City National High School and Kasadyahan winner Tribu Salakayan of Miag-ao, Iloilo are expected to wow national audience in Aliwan Fiesta’s battle of festivals in Manila in April to promote the city as bannered by the world-class Dinagyang Festival.

Dinagyang has also become the first religious-cultural celebration in the country to be conferred the prestigious 2012 National Galing Pook Awards as “Community Participation and 

Collaborative Governance through Dinagyang Festival” won as one of Top 10 innovative and exemplary practice.

The awards will be handed by no less than Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III in a ceremony to be held at the Heroes Hall of Malacañang on Jan. 30.

As local governance best practice, the festival highlights strong public-private partnership spearheaded by a triumvirate of the city government, Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. and San Jose Parish Church.*PNA/ICPIO