Dinagyang Festival 2012 Kicks Off

Dinagyang Festival is an annual religious/cultural festival in Iloilo City, Philippines held on the fourth Sunday of January, or right after the Sinulog in Cebu and the Ati-Atihan in Aklan. It is held both to honor the Santo Niño and to celebrate the arrival on Panay of Malay settlers and the subsequent selling of the island to them by the Atis.



This year, the Iloilo City Goverment and the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. are gearing up for a more peaceful and "greener" celebration where 1 million people are expected to participate.

According Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, he wants the city to be free from thrash, as well as crime.

This year's festival theme is “Beyond Awards: A Culture of Excellence.”