LakbayLoyd Fiesta Series : The Battle of the Tribes at the DINAGYANG FESTIVAL

The Dinagyang Festival is Iloilo City's version of the famous Ati-Atihan Festival held Kalibo and other parts of the country. It started way back in 1967 when the image of Sto. Nino was brought to IloIlo City from Cebu. Since then, the Dinagyang Festival was celebrated and the grand celebration is held every fourth week of January, a week after the Sinulog celebration. It may not be as old as the Ati-Atihan but definitely much much more impressive in terms of costume design, a display of Ilongos' artistry, ingenuity and craftsmanship, exquisite choreography and original musical scoring. The production numbers were very well-kept secrets and were only revealed during the competition itself, that's according to production insiders.

There are two major events during the festivals final weekend of the festivity. The Kasadyahan Regional Cultural Competition, held on the fourth Saturday, is participated by visiting tribes from different towns and provinces all over the Visayas and Mindanao. The most attended, much awaited and highly-anticipated Ati Tribe Competition is held.

I was able to witness Dinagyang Festival for the past three consecutive years, and like most of the festival's aficionados, I am very much convinced that the Dinagyang Festival is the best tourism event in the Philippines for all time.

In photos, the grand winner for three consecutive years - Tribu Panayanon.

Tribu Panayanon in 2013

Tribu Panayanon in 2014

Tribu Panayanon in 2015

Highlights of the Dinagyang Festival 2015

LakbayLoyd Fiesta Series : The Spectacular SINULOG FESTIVAL of CEBU CITY

This is all about witnessing the 2015 Sinulog Festival for the second time. My first Sinulog in 2007 was so remarkable I made a promise to be part of this big event again where everyone devotedly celebrate and pay homage in honor of their Patron Saint Sto. Niño.

With BB. Pilipinas World 2006 Ann Maris Igpit during the 2007 Sinulog Festival

Held every third week of January, Cebu City hosts the grandest and the most extravagant festivals in the Philippines - the Sinulog Festival. It's Cebu City's fiesta of fiestas, and considered as the country's queen of all festivals.It's a festival of colors and ritual dancing distinguished by it's unusual two-steps-forward-and-one-step-backward choreography - dancing in elegant costumes in vibrant colors to the beat of the drums shouting "Pit Senor!" and "Viva Senior Niño".

There a lot of activities to see and enjoy in the entire duration of the festival. There's the Short Film Festival, Photo Contest, cultural shows, street fair and street dance parties with live bands, fireworks display, the Sinulog Festival Queen pageant - and a lot more.

The festival culminates with two big events participated and witnessed by all Cebuanos, local and foreign tourists, and devotees from all over the country - the Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño and The Sinulog Grand Parade, the highlights of the festivity and are both held on the last Saturday and Sunday consecutively.

Here are the highlights of my unforgettable Sinulog 2015 experience.

2014 Travel Review - Lakbayloyd's Travel Doctrines

EXPLORE - All journeys have a secret destination and the happiest as a traveler always seem to come when you stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else.

EXALT - We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid people, you might better stay at home.

ENDURE - Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

ENJOY - To travel is worth any cost or sacrifice. Have fun - live, learn, love!

.

LakbayLoyd 2014 Year-End Travel Review

Travelling is the greatest true love of my life. That, I learn every time I go to different destinations I hardly had any notions at all. My peculiar itineraries, which consist of trying out new things, wandering off the beaten paths, meeting new people, and looking beyond what is usual and conventional, almost always give me the heightened consciousness through which to apprehend and give importance to almost everything that exist in this world. 

I was never a tourist - I am a traveler.

The peculiarity of my travel agenda brought me to discover and see for myself the almost neglected and forgotten beacons which are witnesses to more than a hundred year of our nation's history - The Spanish Colonial Lighthouses.

2014 is LakbayLoyd's year of the lighthouses. 

Roughly 70 lighthouses were designed and built during the Spanish Colonial Government. 22 are major constructions works while the rest are of lower classification lights.

I have been to 18 of these lighthouses - 3 of them I visited unintentionally during my earlier years of traveling - simply to look at. Then, I realized this passion to discover for myself the historical importance of these lonely sentinels by the sea and eventually completed 15 in 2014.

By 2015, I am determined to visit and complete my collection of all major lighthouses in the Philippines.