Dinagat Island brings story of recovery from typhoon to Sinulog

THE Province of Dinagat Islands joined the 2024 Sinulog Festival in Cebu City: its first time joining the festivities since its founding seventeen years ago.

Supported by the Office of Rep. Alan Ecleo, the 450 Tribu Kamanting performers danced through the streets of Cebu City to celebrate the Feast of Sto. Niño, joining 16 other contingents competing in Sinulog’s streetdance competition.

“We are not just here to win, we are here because we are already winners,” said Rep. Alan Ecleo. “We defeated one of the biggest storms in our history by being united. And by being united, we will defeat poverty, isolation, and negativity.”

The streetdance competition culminated in a grand performance on the main Sinulog stage where Tribu Kamanting performed inspired by its founding festival Bugkosan, which means “coming together.”

“Dinagat Islands is full of people from all backgrounds and walks of life, we are all united by our love for our Province, our culture, and our heritage,” Rep. Ecleo said.

With yells of “Pit Señor!” (“Long live, Christ the Child!”) and “Barug Dinagat!” (“Arise Dinagat!”),the performance tells the Dinagat Islands’s history, culture, and the role of faith in fostering unity and resilience among its people.

“Dinagat Islands is here to show the rest of the country and the rest of the world that we can rise up,” Rep. Ecleo concluded.