Lagawan

Tribu Paghidaet, the reigning champion of Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival, will take center stage in the upcoming International Dance Congress that will be held in Intramuros, Manila on April 26.

City Tourism Officer Benito Jimena said the event will be a gathering of all international dance groups organized by the National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

“That’s a great development, because it means the international scene has already included Dinagyang as having a good track record that’s why we are invited,” he said.

Prior to its participation to the congress, Paghidaet will first perform at the annual Aliwan Festival of the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) also in Manila.

During the Aliwan Festival, the Paghidaet will be competing with other best festivals coming from other parts of the country.

Tribu Paghidaet was also invited as guest performer at the Festival of the North in Dagupan slated on April 27.

Moreover, an invitation was already sent to the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. for one of its tribes to perform during the Independence Day celebration in two cities of the United States of America; New York on June 7 and New Jersey in June 14.

The Dinagyang Festival was named by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) as the best tourism event of the Philippines for three consecutive years since 2006. (PNA)