Candidates for Dinagsa Queen 2011, Ginoong Cadiz 2011, schedule of activities announced

The Cadiz City Government announced the list of official candidates for Dinagsa Queen 2011 and Ginoong Cadiz 2011, the two main events on the 37^th Dinagsa Festival 2011 on January 22-30, 2011.

Vying for the Dinagsa Queen 2011 title are Audrey Grace Baruc, candidate number 1; Ira Chris Egca, candidate number 2; Andrea De Guzman, candidate number 3; Stephanie Monserate, candidate number 4;

Angela Joy Johns, candidate number 5; Rovelyn Elmission, candidate number 6; Rhonna Mae Yee, candidate number 7; and, Russel Baño, candidate number 8.

Ginoong Cadiz 2011 candidates are Ryan Labrador, candidate number 1; George Kevin Barilea, candidate number 2; Ramon Cesar Mahipus, candidate number 3; Melvan Villa, candidate number 4;

Kurt Daren Micabel, candidate number 5; Eduard Joseph Brillantes, candidate number 6; Jeffrey Paglinawan candidate number 7; and, Keene Castillo, candidate number 8.

The search for Ginoong Cadiz and Dinagsa Queen will be on January 27 and 28, respectively, at the Don Bernardo Benedicto Community Center in Cadiz City. While the talent competition for the two events will be jointly held on January 26, 7PM, also at the DBBCC.

On the other hand, Mayor Patrick Escalante has employed several modifications on the annual festival to make it a truly national and global interest. This, the Mayor hopes, will attract an influx of both local and international tourists.

Among the many artistic and creative revisions for the 37^th Dinagsa Festival 2011 include the conduct of the Dinagsa Faces 2010 Photo Contest. This activity is aimed at collecting old photos from any local and international tourists and guests who once revered the festival. The winning entries will be used for the promotional materials of the Festival on January 22-30, 2011.

Other positive innovation that will surely draw more crowds will be the “Lamhitanay Festival”. This will happen during the ati-atihan street dance competition on January 30 where warriors and revelers alike smudge themselves with paint. The “lamhitanay” refers to the artistic and creative smudging with colorful paint on body parts, particularly on faces.

The festivities will start on January 22 with DRVFGMNHS alumni homecoming, Shoot Fest and Battle of the Bands; January 23, SK Day, an Invitational Airsoft Competition and Dog Show; January 24, Holy Mass, opening of the Cadiz Information Center, Agro-Industrial Fair and the Tukib Art Exhibit, and the motorcade of Sto. Nino de Cadiz; January 25, the RMN Hip-Hop Dance Contest; January 26, Concelebrated Mass, Fluvial Parade and Procession;

January 27, street party; January 28, Paralympiada and street party; January 29, Best of Negros Festival, ABC Night and the street party; and, January 30, Holy Mass, Ati-Atihan Street Dance Competition, Tribe’s Endurance Competition and “Lamhitanay Festival”, street party and fireworks display.

The Cadiz City’s Dinagsa Festival won the national award as the country’s 2010 Best Tourism Event First Runner Up on the 11^th National Convention of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) last October 3-6, 2010 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center in Olongapo City./*