Pagdihon: Heart and Soul of Dingle Culture

Gen. Adriano Hernandez, the town's local hero carrying the Philippine flag

Dingle, Iloilo, in the spirit of getting to know more of the town will host to one of Iloilo’s most inspiring cultural event, Pagdihon Festival on October 25-31, 2017.

With the festival theme, “Pagdihon, Ginakabuhi sang mga Dingleanon,” special events starting its opening day on October 25 (Wednesday) that includes Float Parade at 7:30 a.m. with an Opening Program, Unified Drum and Lyre Corp and Drum and Bugle Corp Exhibition, Agri-Fair, Laro ng Lahi at 1 p.m., Miss Pagdihon and Open Stage Sound System ; October 26 (Thursday) with Senior Citizen’s Day, Teacher’s Night and Open Stage Sound System; October 27 (Friday) Mass Church Wedding, Alcoholic’s Night and Open Stage Sound System; October 28 (Saturday) Cry of Lincud, Raising of Banners, Dingle Tonight, Fireworks Competition and Open Stage Sound System; October 29 (Sunday) Boy and Girl Scouts Day, Farmer’s Coop Day, Zumba, Open Stage Live Band; October 30 (Monday) Street and Dance Drama Competition, Search for Mr. and Miss Teen Pagdihon and Open Stage Sound System; October 31 (Tuesday) Trick or Treat, Horror Night, Awarding and Open Stage Live Band.

Pagdihon offer visitors a glimpse into the heart and soul of its people highlighted by the much-anticipated annual tribal dance-drama competition. Here, all the competing tribes show off their dancing and theatrical skills in order to grab the championship crown. 

The performances features local legends incorporated to local history that rekindles the sense of heroism and a look back on the sacrifices and bravery of their local hero led by Gen. Adriano Dayot Hernandez who staged the first armed uprising in the Province of Iloilo in October 28, 1898.

Adriano Hernandez later became a brigadier general in the Philippine Revolutionary Army during the Philippine American War. As a military strategist, Hernandez was designated Chief of Staff of the revolutionary government in the Visayas in November 1898, and became an aide to another local hero from Santa Barbara, Gen. Martin Teofilo Delgado. He represented the province of Iloilo at the Malolos Congress. He led the guerrilla movement in the province of Iloilo until his surrender. To honour him, the local government erected a statue which stands proudly in Barangay Lincud. Gen. Hernandez died on February 16, 1925.

Pagdihon commemorates the blessings of having a great hero. The week-long celebration of Pagdihon Festival aims to remind the young generation of Dingleanons about their local history and for them to imitate the good deeds that their local hero possessed and the tenets that he lived by, not to mention his bravery and love for his town and people.

Other must-do activities around Dingle: Do not skip a tour through the only National Park in the island of Panay, Bulabog National Park which houses 33 known caves in the area. Take a picture in front of St. John the Baptist Parish. And do not miss the Nautod Wall. For rock climbing enthusiasts, the wall is considered a haven for both hardcore and leisurely climbers because of the variety of grade offerings from 5.8 to 5.12.

Dingle is a Third-Class municipality 37 kilometers away or an hour drive from the city. Its land area measures 7, 750 hectares politically subdivided into 33 barangays. It annually celebrates its religious fiesta every 24^th of June in honour of St. John the Baptist. Market day is every Saturday.

To get to Dingle, take a jeepney at Tagbak terminal in Jaro, Iloilo City. For more information, please contact, Dane Dizon – Municipal Tourism Officer at 09477424341.