Dinagyang 2024

Dinagyang 2024 to my mind is one of the many festivals that was able to successfully fuse and blend tradition and culture and full-scale commercialization. We are not saying that commercialization is a bad idea ... but it is a foolproof and infallible formula ... something that will boost Iloilo's economy and tourism for sure.

Aside from enticing visitors and tourists to drop by Iloilo to have a sample of its rich culture ... Dinagyang also becomes a platform to showcase Iloilo's gastronomic treats ... having won UNESCO's  Creative City of Gastronomy award.

Behind the vibrant tapestry of religion history and faith, a kaleidoscope of colorful costumes and iridescent props, the pulsating and rhythmic beat of drums gongs, and xylophones Iloilo welcomes you to experience an assortment and a miscellany of mouthwatering cuisine and food fares.

Indeed that's what we saw ... as kiosks were sprouting like mushrooms in the streets of Delgado, Valeria, Iznart, Solis, would you believe... even in  Muelley Loney.

I could imagine Mayor Jerry Trenas grinning from ear to ear as people queued and lined up to savor what food and delicacies Iloilo had prepared for them. Everybody for sure enjoyed the culinary and the gastronomic delights.

There's a merry tinkling of dough-re-mi in every corner of the city. And that's all that counts.

Kapamilya Karavan at Dinagyang 2024

 As the song goes ... "Are the stars out tonight ... " Yesiree the stars were out last January 28 at Megaworld Festive Walk ... and they descend from heaven just to be a part of the culminating activities of Dinagyang 2024.

As part of the Kapamilya Karavan, Kim Chiu, Paulo Avelino, and JM de Guzman take time from their busy schedule in the teleserye Linlang and show up in flesh and blood to drumbeat this latest ABS CBN soap on infidelity which is already gaining a lot of concurrent viewers in whatever platform there is available.

And not to be outdone ... Andrea Brillantes and Kyle Echarri the lead stars of Senior High ... another whodunit thriller that touches on social issues affecting teenagers today like suicide, bullying, teenage pregnancy, and boys love ... came in strong with their duet Gusto Kitang Isayaw to the delight of their fans who were screaming and shrieking on top of their lungs... that almost made my eardrums bleed.

Another love team from Can't Buy Me Love - Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings made more kilig moments.  And just like their outing in Can't Buy Me Love where netizens are raving about their pole-apart chemistry ... their unlikely pairing has slowly but surely gravitated the fans to like their unusual tandem. Indeed opposite attracts ... and judging from their reactions their amalgam creates surefire pyrotechnics that is almost palpable.

We also saw  Hashtag Nikko Natividad who was his usual kikoy self ... and we are wondering if Tommy Alejandrino, Gela Atayde, Daniela Stranner, Janine Berdin made it to the show.

For what it is worth, the trend now where ABS CBN and GMA stars have become visible in provinces to promote their movies and teleseryes is a welcome treat. The Philippines is not just Manila ... who whoever concocted this idea deserves a pat on the shoulder.

Hala Bira Iloilo!