Cadiz Celebrates 43rd Dinagsa Festival

Its festival time in the Philippines and Negros Occidental has a list of celebrations  starting January to December . Bacolod celebrated the Bacolaudiat festival for the Chinese new year , while  hundreds of private vehicles went to the City of Cadiz  about 60.6 kilometers from Bacolod City over the weekend.  

We woke up early last weekend wearing our white shirts , rubber shoes and shades some in pants and most young ones in shorts. We made sure the car was parked far enough not to be painted as the festival is also famous for the ‘lamhitanay’ where small plastic containers are filled up with paints in different colors at a price of P5.00, some in plastic bottles sold at P10.00 – P20.00 each, many would swipe paint on your white shirt , or spray paint on you and some would pour a bucket of paint to revellers. 

We had to hold each other by noon when we walked around the streets as this was filled up, disc jockeys were playing music and leading the group , it was a total street party which has attracted visitors , filling up the hotels and other accommodation facilities. Everyone was in a festive mood, so if you are not ready to be painted on your face , arms, legs or have your shirt painted, then you should condition yourself to experience fun in Cadiz to be a part of the whole festival.

The Dinagsa festival had a merry making competition with Maraynon Tribe of Dr. VFGMNHS  as grand winner followed by Maragtas Tribe represented by Philippine Normal University and the Nornecan Tribe of North Negros College.

Dinagsa festival is a festival that means coming together in celebration of the Feast of Sr. Sto. Nino , the annual street dance is composed of tribes  in their native costumes that would look like warriors. There were seven competing tribes who performed in three areas, at the Children’s Playground, Market Area and the City Hall Area. Each tribe had live band using percussion instruments such as chimes, tomtom, bamboo pipes, bongo drums and cymbals, shakers, blocks , cowbells and jambells, even water containers and pipes were used as musical intruments.  

They were judged according to performance, production design, choreography in three scenes such as the way of life of Cadiznons with a re-enactment of a cockfight, whale stranding, the introduction of Christianity with Antonio Cabahug, celebration of a festival and the dance of the Cadiznons through Kaskas, Hugpong and Lamhitanay, they were also judged with the sound and discipline of the group. All the tribes performed well with Bocad-Burgos as grand champion and was also awarded Best in Discipline, Best in Sound, Best in Production and Best in Performance, followed by Sicablun Quatro Tribe in 2^nd place who also won as Best in Choreography with Charile Besa as Best Local Choreographer, Balete Tribe in Third Place, Dinagat Majeca in Fourth Pace and Hitalon Tribe on 5^th place. Judges composed of dance guro’s from the NCCA, travel writers, tourism officers, the academe.

A grand Alumni homecoming also took place in various schools in the city and  family reunions as well, indeed the whole city was celebrating life and bringing good business in the tourism industry.

Dinagsa sa Cadiz is indeed a festival worth the visit , the kids are already planning to bring paint filled  balloons next year, this will surely be fun, book your rooms ahead and enjoy the sweet surprises of Cadiz. For assistance you may visit or call the City Tourism Office headed by Ms. Juanily Pedrosa.