Marcos: Dinagyang a reminder to preserve Filipino identity amid changing times

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. tells devotees of Señor Santo Niño in Iloilo to let Dinagyang Festival be a reminder of the importance of promoting Filipino identity.

“Let the Dinagyang Festival serve as a reminder of our collective responsibility to preserve, protect, and promote our identity in these changing times,” Marcos said in his message on Sunday.

“It is through this collective effort that we ensure the continuity of the distinct way of life that bind us as one nation moving ever forward towards a brighter future,” he added.

One of the annually anticipated events in the country is the Dinagyang Festival, which honors the Santo Niño. In Iloilo City, festivities take place on the fourth Sunday of January.

Marcos said the festival “showcases the vibrancy of Iloilo and the profound sense of unity and pride that defines its proud and resilient people.”

“The Dinagyang Festival is a reflection of the rich and colorful mosaic that make up all our indigenous groups, including the brave and enduring Ati people whom we also honor today,” he added.