Dinagyang 2012 sets Php 1.4 M cash prizes for contest winners

Organizers of Iloilo's Dinagyang Festival are preparing a total of Php 1.4 million in cash prizes for the major and minor awards in this year's edition of the festival.

Of the cash prizes at stake, Php 510,000 will go to the Dinagyang Ati Contest, Php 390,000 to the Kasadyahan Regional Cultural Competition, Php 103,500 miscellaneous Events, Php 190,000 to Tambor Trumpa Martsa Musika and Php 250,000 to Dinagyang Pyrolympics: Luces in the Sky.

The prizes were approved by the Finance Group of the Steering Committee chaired by former city councilor Ramon Cua Locsin, who also sits as vice chair of the Dinagyang 2012 Festival Board and Marissa Segovia, Finance Group festival treasurer and budget in-charge.

The events set to receive prizes are distributed throughout the festival period and will culminate in the Kasadyahan cultural on Jan. 21 and Ati tribe competitions on Jan. 22.

The prizes will be handed in to the winners during the culminating program on the evening of Jan. 22.

Meanwhile, the organizers have released the updated schedule of activities of the festival, which highlight specific events. Opening salvo for the feast of Senor Sto. Nino is on Jan. 11. Santo Nino novena masses shall be held Jan. 11-19. Opening salvo is on Jan. 13. Dinagyang 2012 Mayor's Cup Golf Tournament is on Jan. 14-15. Miss Teen Dinagyang coronation is on Jan. 16. Coronation of Queen Juana 2012 and Nino Dinagyang and Miss Iloilo Dinagyang coronation is on Jan. 18. Dinagyang Pyrolympics: Luces in the Sky is on Jan. 19-20. Sineng Pambansa: 2nd Iloilo International Film FestivaL is on

Jan. 19-21. Dinagyang IHRRA Food Festival is on Jan. 19-22. TAMBOR TRUMPA MARTSA MUSIKA, the 1st Iloilo Chinese-Filipino Trade Expo and fluvial procession is set to happen on Jan. 20. Kasadyahan regional cultural competition is on Jan. 21 and the Dinagyang Ati Contest is on Jan. 22.

A thanksgiving mass will wrap the Dinagyang festivities on Jan. 23.

Iloilo's Dinagyang is one of Western Visayas major religious and cultural festivals and tourist attractions. Regional development planners would be initiating moves to align it with other major festivals in the region in order that they would complement and enhance each other for overall tourism development and promotion in the region. -PIA — ARA