Tribu Ilonggo brings back Dinagyang Sa Chicago 2024

By: Ryan Tejero

 

Amust-see event this year is the festive and colorful event of Iloilo’s Dinagyang sa Chicago. Now in its 4th year, this festival brings out the originality of Ilonggos in the Midwest in staging their unique culture. Dinagyang is a world-famous festival. It is marked by the loud beating of the drums that matches the electrifying dance performances in the streets. The colorful costumes and the striking designs made from indigenous materials mostly local to Iloilo attract tourists from all over the world.

In the Midwest, Dinagyang Sa Chicago gathers the community to celebrate the beauty of Iloilo. The same Dinagyang costumes imported from Iloilo are shipped to Chicago for presentation. One of the highlighted features of Dinagyang Sa Chicago is the parade of Ilonggo beauties, called Lin-Ay Sang Dinagyang. This year’s batch will usher in a new set of young ambassadors who will represent Iloilo culture.

Dinagyang Sa Chicago was organized by the group called Tribu Ilonggo back in 2018. Through the years, this group has represented the FilAm community in various community events. They have been invited to mainstream events such as the Chicago Columbus Day Parade in 2023. More recently, Dinagyang Sa Chicago members were featured in a cultural presentation at the 2024 Asian Heritage Festival in Naperville. Composed of high achiever Ilonggo leaders in the Chicago Filipino American community, Tribu Ilonggo members are successful professionals in the healthcare industry. This year’s event committee members are Ritchie Gil, Gemma Esmalla, Benz Jereos, Tina Cronologia, Ramon Davila, Sheila Altis, Ben Inventor, Joe John Natividad, Maribel Calloway, Charlie Capaque, Maricel Pendon, Lyrol Gonzalez Fabian, Jinky Doza.

Committee member, Ebenezer Jereos, who works at the State of Illinois, Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Colbert & Williams Consent Decree Units stated that “This year’s event will bring in more surprises in terms of new and colorful Dinagyang costumes. We will also feature the Lin-ays and Lakans of Dinagyang (Miss and Mr Dinagyang). Tribu Ilonggo continues to organize Dinagyang sa Chicago to promote and engage our younger generation to embrace their Ilonggo roots and heritage.”

Gemma Esmalla, who is one of the organizers stated that “This year’s Dinagyang Sa Chicago is aimed at increasing awareness of Ilonggo culture by spreading the spirit of Dinagyang in Chicago and the Midwest. We will be working collaboratively in partnership with Chicago Nightingales under the leadership of Milagros Machado who is the newly inducted president for 2024-2026. Part of the proceeds will go to two orphanages in the Visayas which are the Don Bosco in Dumangas, Iloilo and Sto. Nino in Bacolod.” Gemma is employed by the Ascension St Elizabeth Behavioral Health.

Dinagyang Sa Chicago 2024 will be held on August 16, 2024, at 6PM, at the Allegra Banquets located at 5035 N River Road, Schiller Park, Illinois. Please call Gemma at 847 452 6637, Richie at 708 655 1415 and Benz at 773 366 6475, Tina at 7737441072 and Sheila at 8154746570 for tickets and sponsorships.

Dinagyang Sa Chicago representing the Philippines at the 2023 Columbus Day Parade in downtown Chicago.

Dinagyang sa Chicago provided Philippine representation at the 2024 Asian Heritage Festival in Naperville.