Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival was crowned grand champion at the Aliwan Fiesta 2024 in Pasay City. Handout 

MANILA -- The province of Iloilo emerged as the big winner at this year’s Aliwan Fiesta as two different contingents from the same province dominated both the streetdance and the musical ensemble competitions over the weekend during the three-day fiesta held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex.

Aliwan Fiesta gathers cultural performers in the country every year to celebrate the diversity of regional Filipino festivities. This year, 15 regional festivals were represented in Aliwan, with more than 5,000 descending on Manila, composed of streetdancers, musicians, coaches and choreographers, costume designers, props makers, stylists, and many more.

Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival bested 14 other contenders from various regions to win the elusive back-to-back championship in the streetdance contest. This marks the Ilonggo festival’s eighth Aliwan victory since 2004, the most for any contingent. Dinagyang representatives Tribu Pan-ay took home nearly a total P2 million in cash prizes.

Another Iloilo bet and crowd favorite Tultugan Festival clinched the second spot and brought home nearly P1 million in cash, also in both streetdance and Tugtog ng Aliwan competitions. Dancing to the electrifying rhythm of bamboo percussion, Tultugan Festival's performance chronicled the cultural transformation of the Panay Islands beginning with the Spanish colonial period to the present.

“Our hearts beat even stronger and faster in Iloilo City. Sa liwat, Ilonggo ang nangibabaw!,” Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas wrote in a Facebook post.

Placing third in both the streetdance competition and musical ensemble contests is Maguindanao del Norte’s Meguyaya Festival, a showcase of abundance and unity among its people, amid thanksgiving and merrymaking. 

Tultugan was also recognized with “Best in Musical Accompaniment” while Baguio City’s Panagbenga Festival was named the “Pride of Place Awardee.” Ilonggo students in brown body paint danced their way to the top with a variety of costumes embellished with green leaves and colorful feathers, winning them the “Best in Costume” award.

In Reyna ng Aliwan pageant, it is Cebu’s light that shone the brightest as Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival representative Mia Loureen C. Tamayo won the coveted Reyna ng Aliwan 2024 crown, clinching the 10th Aliwan title for the pageantry powerhouse. Tamayo succeeds another Cebuana beauty queen Kiara Liane Wellington who won in 2023.

First runner-up is University of the Philippines student Ameera Sulaiman Said D. Almamari who represented Atimonan Quezon’s Tagultol Fishing Festival. 

Handout 

Cotabato City’s “Guinakit” came out on top of seven other regions in the float parade, improving on their second place finish in 2023. The musical golden boat reflects the rich culture of Maguindanao del Norte. 

This was followed by Panagkakadua-an of San Felipe, Zambales at second place. The float features a moving carabao replica and spinning wheel barrow on top of a flowery structure.

In third place is the Republica Filipina - Fiesta Republica float that commemorates the inauguration of the first Philippine Republic in 1899 at Malolos, Bulacan.

Here is the complete list of winners of Aliwan Fiesta 2024:

Cultural Streetdance Competition

Champion: Dinagyang Festival (Iloilo)

2nd place: Tultugan Festival  (Iloilo)

3rd place: Meguyaya Festival (Upi, Maguindanao)

4th place: Niyogyugan Festival (Pagbilao, Quezon)

5th place: Sinulog Festival (Cebu City)

Runners up: Antipolo Maytime Festival (Antipolo City), Kaogma Festival (Baao, Camarines Sur), Panagbenga Festival (Baguio City), Halamanan Festival (Guiguinto, Bulacan), and Cagsawa Festival (Daraga, Albay) 

Special Awards

Best in Costume: Dinagyang Festival (Iloilo)

Pride of Place Awardee: Panagbenga Festival (Baguio City)

Best in Musical Accompaniment: Tultugan Festival (Iloilo)

Handout 

Float Competition

Champion: Guinakit (Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Norte)

2nd place: Panagkakadua-an float (San Felipe, Zambales)

3rd place: Republica Filipina - Fiesta Republica (Malolos, Bulacan)

Runners up: Bahay Pangisdaan (Muntinlupa City), Lamin o Bidadari (Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao del Norte), Ilwan a Inaul sa Kutawato (Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Norte) and Halamanan Festival (Guiguinto, Bulacan)

Reyna ng Aliwan

Reyna ng Aliwan 2024: Mia Loureen C. Tamayo (Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Cebu Province)

1st Runner Up: Ameera Sulaiman Said D. Almamari (Tagultol Fishing Festival of Atimonan, Quezon)

Runner ups: Nicole Grencio (Sunduan Festival of Paranaque City), Michele Angela Okol (Lakbayaw Festival of Manila) and Mariel Bogert (Sinulog Festival of Cebu City)

Tugtog ng Aliwan

Champion: Dinagyang Festival (Iloilo)

1st Runner Up: Tultugan Festival (Iloilo)

2nd Runner Up: Meguyaya Festival (Upi, Maguindanao del Norte)