Paraw Regatta 2012

Aside from the fact that Iloilo is an ideal place to go to for the beaches around it, it should also be noted that Iloilo holds a Paraw Regatta which is not just a mere race of sailboats, but this is also an event that boasts the creativity and art of Ilonggo craftsmanship. The sailboats are also judged by their artistic beauty, because the sails are usually painted with colorful, wonderful, and artistic designs. Aside from the regatta itself, there are also various concerts and parties that go along with this event.

Of course there is also the Sinamba sa Paraw Regatta which is a dance and parade festival that celebrates the Paraw Regatta festivities. One may describe this as a combination of the Brazilian Carnival parade and the Dinagyang format. While it is a festival-add-on that was made just a couple of years ago, it obviously has the makings of a festival that would be as scorchingly intense as the Dinagyang festival.

Here's the sked of Main Events:

February 16, 2012 (Thursday)
6:00 PM - 2012 Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival Torch Parade / Major City Streets
February 17, 2012 (Friday)
12:00 NN - 2012 Iloilo Paraw Regatta Rowing & Paddling Competitions / Along Iloilo River
07:00 PM - 2012 Miss Iloilo Paraw Regatta Pageant Coronation Night / Freedom Grandstand
February 18, 2012 (Saturday)
10:00 PM - "Luces By The Sea" - A Fireworks Display / Main Festival Stage Tatoy's Manokan
February 19, 2012 (Sunday)
6:00 AM - "Pinta Layag" Final Judging / Villa Beach Shoreline
8:00 AM - "Pintawo" A Body-Painting Competition / Breakthrough Restaurant
7:00 AM - Opening Program & Opening Declaration of Race / Main Festival Stage Tatoy's Manokan
7:30 AM - 2012 Iloilo Paraw Regatta - 39th Edition Grand Take-Off
8:00 AM - Mini Paraw Beach Race / Villa Beach Shoreline
8:00 AM - Sports Photo Contest / Villa Regatta Beach Front
12:00 NN - Arrival of The Deep-Sea Fishing Competition Participants / Main Festival Stage Tatoy's Manokan
3:00 PM - First Awarding Ceremonies - Main Regatta Event Winners
6:00 PM - Second Awarding Ceremonies - Special Events
7:00 PM - Beach Party and Gma Variety Show with Fireworks

HERE ARE THE FULL SCHEDULES OF THE PARAW REGATTA FESTIVAL EVENTS:
[CLICK TO VIEW OR DOWNLOAD]

Jaro Fiesta 2012

On February 2 is the Fiesta of the Jaro district of Iloilo. This is Iloilo City's most prominent district which was itself a city during the Spanish era. The fiesta is one of the grandest fiestas of the city because of the procession, parades, and the well-known cockfighting competitions at the Iloilo Coliseum, where cockfighting aficionados (including the likes of Manny Pacquiao) from all over the Philippines converge.

Jaro is also a place where one can find many old mansions that are a testament to the Spanish architectural influence on the country. The Jaro cathedral is the site where one can find the statue of the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of the Candles), which was canonically crowned by the late Pope John Paul II during his visit in 1982; it remains the only religious statue in the Philippines to have been personally crowned by a Pope.
This year, February 2 is on a Thursday.

The Chinese New Year Celebration in Iloilo City

As much as we anticipate the upcoming Dinagyang Celebration, the City of Iloilo is also anticipating the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities. As we all know, Iloilo City's Chinese New Year celebration boasts as the first Chinese new year celebration outside Metro Manila and is often considered the biggest Chinese New Year celebration in the Philippines, even bigger than in Manila’s Chinatown. With the help of local prominent Chinoy business organizations, the City's Chinese Schools, the City Government, and many other supporters, the Iloilo City Chinese New Year Celebration is something that everybody should not simply miss. (These photos are from the previous Chinese New Year Celebrations in Iloilo)

Aside from Cultural Shows and Exhibits, the main highlight of Iloilo's Chinese New Year Celebration is the Chinese parade of Chinese dragons, floats, and dancers from the Capitol Area up to the Chinatown and Calle Real area. The Dragon dances give good luck to the city as they dance along Iloilo City streets. This parade leads up to the main cultural show at the Chinatown area, and the fireworks display. This year, the festivities will surely bloom because it is not only a Year of the Dragon, but it also marks the first Chinese New Year to be graced by the newly erected Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch along Iznart Street (this is also the location of the Cultural Show). This landmark pays tribute to the strong relationship between the city government and Chinese-Ilonggo community.

Iloilo Chinese
New Year 2012 Celebration Schedule of Activities

January 20 – 27, 2012
Filipino-Chinese Trade Expo –  PNB Hall, General Luna Street

January 27, 2012
3:00 PM – Cultural Parade, Iznart Street
4:00 PM – Chinese Food Festival, Iznart Street
5:30 PM – Cultural Program and Fireworks Display,  Iznart Street
[PARADE ROUTE: Bonifacio Drive, Iznart St., J.M. Basa St., Aldeguer St. / from the Hall of Justice area to Calle Real]

January 28 – 29, 2012
10 AM to 9 PM – Ongoing Chinese Heritage Cultural Exhibit, SM City Iloilo

January 29, 2012
Iloilo Scholastic Academy Mall Show, SM City Iloilo

Dinagyang 2012: Changes & Schedule of Activities

Dinagyang 2012 has already had its official launch last November 11, 2011. That means that the many Dinagyang-relatede activities had already began, and the plans for Dinagyang 2012 had already been unveiled. The highlights of the celebration will be held on January 20-22, 2012. (CHECK OUT FULL SCHEDULE AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE)

The festival organizers composed of the city government, the San Jose Parish and the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation came up with several changes from the usual format. The most prominent change is that of the Judging Areas. The Judging Areas are as follows:

Judging Area #1: Sports Complex
Judging Area #2: Front of WIT/ St. Clements Church
Judging Area #3: Front of DOT
Judging Area #4: Freedom Grandstand

The parade shall no longer be of the carousel type but it shall be a straight parade which will start at the Iloilo Sports Complex and end at the Freedom Grandstand. According to the organizers, the change in venue was entertained to accommodate a larger audience as the festival continues to draw bigger crowd every year.

In an interview with Serbisyo Publiko hosted by Councilor Perla Zulueta over Sky Cable Sunday, Jimena said the chief complainants against the venue change are the participating tribes of the Ati-ati dance contest. Jimena said the tribes are worried that they will spend too much time and effort in pushing their props such as risers or platforms from the sports complex to the Freedom Grandstand. “Even in the carousel mode, they are pushing their props. This is one reason why we in some festivals the use of ‘non-portable’ props are discouraged and instead they focus on their music and choreography,” Jimena said.

Jimena said the sports complex will be stage 1 while stage 2 will be in the vicinity of St. Clement’s Church in LaPaz. The provincial capitol area will serve as stage 3 and the Freedom Grandstand as stage 4. “If we start at 8am, the first tribe will be able to perform at the Grandstand at around 9:30am. We will find out the sequence during our simulation,” he added.

“The executive committee of the IDFI is looking for ways and means to make the festival more exciting through these changes. And any criticism and suggestions are welcome so we can refine our plans,” he added.

2012 ILOILO DINAGYANG FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:
December 9, 2011 [Friday] 3 PM - Miss Dinagyang Launch / SM City Iloilo: Event Center
December 16, 2011 [Friday] 3 PM - Pamukaw (Awakening of the City)
January 13, 2012 [Friday] 2 PM - Opening Salvo (Official Festival Kick-Off)
January 20, 2012 [Friday] 3 PM - Dinagyang Fluvial Procession
January 21, 2012 [Saturday] 7 AM - Mass for Kasadyahan
January 21, 2012 [Saturday] 8 AM - KASADYAHAN Competition / Dinagyang Route 
January 21, 2012 [Saturday] 7 PM - Religious Sad-sad to Sr. Sto. Niño
January 22, 2012 [Sunday] 6:30 AM - Concelebrated high mass for devotees, Tribes, Gov't. Officials / Iloilo Sports Complex
January 22, 2012 [Sunday] 8 AM - DINAGYANG Ati CONTEST
January 22, 2012 [Sunday] 7 PM - Awarding Ceremonies

The theme of the 2012 Dinagyang Festival is: "Beyond Awards, A Culture of Excellence". It’s religious theme is "Senor Santo Nino: One Beat, One Voice, On the Move to Serve".