MANILA - The Iloilo Dinagyang Festival nailed a win in this year's Aliwan Fiesta, making the festival be hailed as a Grand Slam champion in the country's mother of festivals yearly celebration.

The Dinagyang Festival was hailed champion for three straight years, making it five times over-all champions since the festival was organized 10 years ago.

Dinagyang 2012 champion Tribu Pan-ay of Fort San Pedro National High School through its school principal Dr. Bresilda Floro, Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) Ramon Cua Locsin, City Tourism Officer Benito Jimena and Iloilo City Major Jed Patrick Mabilog received P1 million cash prize plus championship trophy during Saturday's awarding ceremony held at the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex, Pasay City, Manila.

Tribu Pan-ay with 270 performers defeated 20 other contingent festivals around the country with closest competitors Buyogan Festival of Abuyog Leyte and Lingganay Festival of Alangalang, also from Leyte, which placed 1st and 2nd runners up, respectively.

Other winners are T'nalak Festival of South Cotabato and Lembuhong Festival of Surallah, also of the same province who placed third and fourth runners-up, respectively.

Other runners up are Dinagyang Kasadyahan champion, Tribu Salakayan of Miag-ao; Mamang-os at Kambingan Festival of Tuy, Batangas; Kalivugan Festival of Alamada, Cotabato, Hermosa Festival of Zamboanga City; and Pandang-Gitab Festival of Oriental Mindoro.

The Salakayan float also won P20,000.

TRIBU PAN-AY

Tribu Pan-ay choreographer Rommel Flogen cannot explain his happiness over their latest feat.

He said the tribe performance highlighted the Ilonggo's faith and devotion to the Santo Niño expressed in unique theme, dance steps and drama.

Flogen has been the choreographer of the tribe for two years now and said he will stay with the tribe as long as there would be no reorganization among school principals in the city.

BOOST TOURISM

City Tourism Officer Ben Jimena said this grand slam of the Dinagyang Festival will definitely boost the tourism industry of Iloilo not only to neighboring Asian countries but around the world.

"It would be easy for us to market Iloilo City when it comes to our own Dinagyang Festival and even invite investors to come in our city as we are already known to be the capital of festivals in the country," he said.

Jimena attributed the festival's success to an operational public-private partnership between the City Government, Ilolo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. (IDFI), and San Jose Parish which totally integrated and mobilized the community.

Other keys to success are relevance to cultural and religious traditions, professionalized events management, effective marketing and creative and innovative activities, Jimena said.

On June, Tribu Pan-ay will be performing in Guam for the Philippine Independence Day celebration. More than 50 delegates from Iloilo City will represent the country in the said celebration.

HISTORY

In the history of Aliwan Fiesta, Dinagyang Festival garnered five first-runner-up trophies since it started in 2003.

Tribu Paghidaet of La Paz National High School placed second in 2008 and 2009.

Tribu Ilonganon of Jalandoni Memorial National High School was also second in 2006 and 2007.

All Iloilo groups grabbed the Top 3 when Pintados of Passi City was declared champion, Kahilwayan of Sta. Barbara finished second and Tribu Silak of Iloilo City National High School placed third in 2005.

Tribu Atub-Atub, meanwhile, placed second in 2003 and won first prize in 2004.*