Marcos: Let Dinagyang remind us to preserve our Filipino identity

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday greeted Iloilo residents celebrating the Dinagyang Festival and urged them to let the event remind them of the need to promote 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 a message shared by the Presidential Communications Office.

The collective effort of Filipinos via the festival can ensure the continuity of the distinct way of life in the country, he said.

“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,” Marcos said.

The President said Dinagyang “showcases the vibrancy of lloilo 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 said.

Held annually every fourth Sunday of January in Iloilo City to honor the Sto. Niño (Child Jesus), the Dinagyang Festival is celebrated with a procession, float parade, and performances by various tribes.

The Philippine National Police deployed over 2,500 police personnel to ensure a peaceful celebration. —KG, GMA Integrated News