The Beats of Dinagyang

I can hear the drums every night. Before I sleep, as I lie down, I can hear the drums, and, I know somewhere, people are dancing. I closed my eyes as I tried to hear more. The beats became louder and clearer, and, like a dream, I can see people dancing, wildly dancing to the beats.

Every fourth Sunday of January, and every Saturday before that, major streets of Iloilo City were closed to vehicles for the celebration of the Kasadyahan Festival and the Dinagyang Festival. Kasadyahan Festival, which is held on the Saturday, reflects the evolving culture and history of the Ilonggo – the people of the region. The performance of the groups in the Kasadyahan - which is called tribu or tribes - differs largely from its competitor. That is because groups are mostly from different areas of the region. A group may perform a historically significant story while another may perform a way of life of its place – like fishing or farming. On the other hand, Dinagyang Festival is held to honor the Santo Niño and the arrival of the Malay settlers in the Island of Panay and the selling of island to them by the Atis – Atis are Aetas in other parts of the Philippines. Dinagyang’s most distinct characteristics are its upbeat percussions and quick movements. These characteristics gave Dinagyang the 1st ATOP(Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines) Hall of Fame Best Tourism Event Award on 2009. On the afternoons, when the performances are over, the streets are filled with merry makers from different parts of the world.

The drum beats are from Zarraga, a nearby town five kilometers away from my house. I am certain they came from a group of performers practicing their routines. It is almost a year, but I can still remember how I spent my Dinagyang 2012 week.

Last January 20, 2012, I went to Smallville Complex before dusk to cover two events, a debutante’s party and a disco party at Flow Superclub that begins at ten in the evening. I took pictures from the debutante’s party from 8:00PM until 10:00PM and from 10:00PM until 3:00AM from the disco party. Then, after that, I went to the Kasadyahan Festival that begins at 8:00AM. Then, on January 21, I returned to Flow Superclub to cover another night of disco party until 3:00AM, and then went to cover the Dinagyang Festival which begun at 8:00AM. I lacked some sleep, I knew. But, when I was in the dancing hall or in the street, I never felt being tired. The beats absorbed all of my tiredness.