ILOILO CITY – The Dinagyang Festival of this city is one of the official delegates of the Philippines to the World Expo in Osaka, Japan.

The Dinagyang held the first of a series of performances on Saturday, June 7, at the grand celebration of the Philippine National Day as part of the Osaka Expo 2025.

THE Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City is part of the Philippine National Week in the Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. (Elvert Bañares/IFFI)

Performers are from Tribu Paghidaet of La Paz National High School (LPNHS), this year’s Dinagyang champion.

Except on June 11, Dinagyang performances choreographed by Gerlin Francisco and Brian Franciso will be held until June 12 as part of the expo’s Philippine National Week. Costumes were designed by Tata Pinuela.

“We are very proud to represent Iloilo City,” said Elvert Bañares creative director of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI).

Bañares and festival artistic director Eric Divinagracia made adjustments to site-specific performances onstage, unlike the street-based performances during the annual January celebration that honors the Santo Niño or Holy Child Jesus.

IFFI Executive Director Joyce Clavecillas, LPNHS Principal Salvador M. Besares, LPNHS Assistant Principal Noel L. Tubungbanua, and Lorna Longno of Amazing Trails Travels joined the Iloilo delegation.

Source: Manila Bulletin.