Dinagyang Festival 2008

Dinagyang 2008 Paghidaet (Champions), originally uploaded by jovijovijovi.

Dinagyang Festival
Ilo-Ilo City, Philippines
Jan 27, 2008

My very first experience of a festival was back when I just started photography. I tagged along a friend's family trip to Ilo-Ilo and was there more for the site-seeing and the booze rather than photography. Around that time, it seemed like I hit a road block in my photography. I couldn't seem to hone my skills to produce better photos. In fact it seemed like I was getting nowhere and was shooting less and less.

But what better way to get you out of a photography slump than a chance to shoot THE BEST festival in the Philippines! Dinagyang! We had tickets to the 2nd staging area thanks to our friends in Ilo-Ilo. We arrived there late though because of some “slight” hangover. Around that time the rain started pouring! Despite the rain and the slightly damaged skin painting, the contingents continued their strong performances. What makes Dinagyang special compared to all the other festivals is the energy. It's difficult not to get into the spirit, with all the heart-pounding drumbeats together with the synchronized dancing AND JUMPING! You will find yourself dancing to the drumbeat as well!

  JUMPING! Most contigents do some jumping, and multiple times as well!
Tribu Ilonganon (2nd place)

When the rain stopped slightly, I couldn't help but move from the crowd to the photographer's area. I didn't have an ID but nobody seemed to mind. I wasn't prepared for the shoot: I was “a bit” hung-over, sleepy, wearing shorts and a t-shirt with nothing to protect my head or face from the scorching sun that rose up against the rain. That's when I learned to remember to always use sun block when shooting; my face was all red and burnt after 3-4 hours of shooting!

I've been to the other 2 big festivals (Sinulog in Cebu and Masskara in Bacolod) and I have to say that none of the two could compare to the Dinagyang Festival. The energy is just amazing. The discipline and the performances are definitely one level higher. Unlike the other two festivals, the Dinagyang festival is not just all color and beauty but also about the warrior spirit of the Filipino as can be seen in the type of dance, music and costumes.

 Warrior Spirit? hehe

Ang Taga-Jaro (3rd place)

Color but with the warrior spirit feel

Tribu ni San Pedro

Back then my photography style and my methods were crude and I know I could do much better now. I hope to get a chance to go back to shoot this amazing festival... in fact, if I had a chance to shoot every year I would go every time! If there is only one festival you plan to go to in the Philippines, then it should definitely be the Dinagyang Festival. No question, no contest. :)

Famous Cigarette Vendor can be found attending the 3 festivals (Sinulog, Dinagyang and Masskara) every year!

for more photos of Dinagyang Festival 2008 click here
for other photos of other festivals click here