The 2026 Iloilo Dinagyang Festival officially opened with “Pamukaw,” which coincided with the start of the Simbang Gabi on Tuesday.

Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc (IFFI) executive director Joyce Clavecillas said they hold the Pamukaw in the morning before the Misa de Gallo, because they literally awaken the Ilonggos on the preparation for the festival, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and the feast of Señor Santo Niño in January.

“For us, it is significant to celebrate the Pamukaw as a reminder for all of us that the center of this festivity is the Child Jesus,” she said in a media interview.

Seven contingents joining the Tribes competition performed within the vicinity of Plaza Libertad.

Meanwhile, during the opening salvo on Jan. 11, the performances will center on the pride of Ilonggos.

Clavecillas said there will be two opening salvoes next year to also include the salvo for the Kasadyahan Festival on Jan. 10.

“At the salvo, we will already do the Freedom to Sports Complex route, for our tribes to familiarize themselves with the route. They will start their performances here at the Freedom, and they will proceed to the Iloilo Sports Complex. It will be in the afternoon,” she said.

The Kasadyahan Festival will be a venue to have a glimpse of the performances in various festivals in Iloilo.

The competition proper for Kasadyahan is in the afternoon of Jan. 24, while the Tribes Competition is in the morning of Jan. 25.

Meanwhile, Clavecillas said they will announce soon the sale of tickets that will be purchased online.

“We are just waiting for the go signal from our web developer. We will post the announcement and the link,” she said. (PNA)