Dinagyang Festival 2011 ( Day 2) ~ Lakbay Pinoy

Finally, I will experience Dinagyang Festival for the first time. The weather that time was good so I packed up my camera and other things needed for the whole day & night event.

08:00 - Start of the long trek from Gaisano City all the way to Freedom Grandstand where the participating tribes or groups will be performing but luck was not with us since there was already a large crowd at the area so the only choice was to find another spot to observe the tribes dancing.

Here are some of the scene that happened during that day..

tthe beat of the drums was the signal that the street dance started.

Participating Tribes of Dinagyang Festival

The street dance finished at around 2 o'clock since there were only 12 tribes who participated. We walk around the streets of Iloilo City and have a photo ops of some of the contestants..

One thing I noticed about this festival is like there are a lot of big speakers scattered around the city. And I was told that it's already an annual contest which is The Battle of the Sounds, which is something like this.

people face towards the speaker and feel its powerful bass. when you get nearer the speakers, you can't hear your own voice even if you scream loud..:)

large crowd during the festival

live band at Gaisano City

After the long walk, the group separated their own ways and meet up later that night. So I was left alone, then I decided to attend a mass at Jaro Cathedral.

Jaro Cathedral - the seat or cathedral for the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jaro. It is located in district of Jaro in Iloilo City, in the province of Iloilo, on the island of Panay, in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is known as the shrine of Our Lady of Candles and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, as well as the parish of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.

The music scene that night was so alive, there were a lot of Manila bands performing on different venues. Manila Beer brought, Hilera, Kamikazee, Parokya ni Edgar and others but we chose to attend the concert near SM.

The Bloomfields - one of the best perfomance I've seen, their cover songs of the 70's and 80's was so groovy that we danced throughout the set

Pupil - first time to saw Ely Buendia.period.hehe

Then the night ended at around 2 A.M., Dinagyang was over. I promised to myself that I will get back soon...as usual Bitin! :)

Expenditures during the day

Transportation - P 18.00
Food - P 65.00
Misc - P 20.00
---------
P 103.00