The Iloilo provincial government, in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, is holding a two-day Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan Festival Research and Production Summit on September 6 to 7, 2025 to professionalize and elevate the performances of local festivals in the province.
The capacity-building summit is designed to build the tribes' core competencies in dance, music, costume design, and arts and festival management. It also aims to produce festival concepts based on Iloilo’s own history and identity and come up with a performance that is “uniquely Ilonggo.”
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said he wants the annual Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan to offer a distinct, authentic, and research-based presentation of each city’s and municipality’s festival - moving away from Dinagyang-inspired concepts, while advancing the provincial tourism brand “Fun, Foodie, Friendly Iloilo.”
Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan is celebrated every January as one of the highlights of the Dinagyang Festival. It is the festival of festivals showcasing a fun, foodie, friendly Iloilo through the culture, customs and tradition of its component city and municipalities.
“We want to develop our different tribes participating in the Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan from the barangay and municipal level. We are capacitating all who are involved in the festival for them to bring the best out of the culture and heritage of Iloilo,” Defensor said.
The summit gathered choreographers, music directors, artists, performers, festival managers, tourism officers, and other stakeholders.
The first day featured music and voice sessions by the Sing Philippines Youth Choir (SYPC) as well as workshops on dance, costume design, and musical instruments.
The second day will include a workshop on dance collaboration with musical instruments as well as a session on arts and culture and festival management.
The activities are simultaneously held at the National Museum of Western Visayas and the Iloilo National High School.
The highlight of the event is the Dinner Show featuring the performance from the Sing Philippines Youth Choir on September 7, 6PM, at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol lobby.
SPYC was organized in 2014 by the Philippine Madrigal Singers (MADZ), the Cultural Center of the Philippines through its Cultural Exchange Department, and Andrea O. Veneracion Sing Philippines Foundation.