'Tribu Talakudong' dances its way to the hearts of Dinagyang

ILOILO CITY -Inside the overcrowded grandstand, Elma Arboleras was eagerly
waiting for Tribu Talakudong to arrive for its field demonstration at the fifth
and last performance area in downtown Iloilo City. It was January 25 — the
highlight of the Dinagyang Festival. It was past one o’clock in the afternoon
and the sky was threatening a heavy downpour. She was worried that after nearly
four hours of brisk dancing in four other areas around the city, the kids would
be exhausted coming in to the last station.

But Elma was wrong. As soon as the beat of the drums, gongs and
kulintangs reverberated in the air, the kids of Tribu Talakudong”
energetically swayed in unison, their chants at their loudest and seamlessly
doing magic with their hats, the trademark of Talakudong. The drops of rain
bouncing off their kudong and fuschia-and-gold
attires only added drama to their strong performance. In between and right
after the kids’ eight-minute field demonstration, cheers and applause echoed
everywhere.

The moment the drumbeats stopped signaling the end of the kids’ presentation,
Elma jumped out of her seat and darted towards the performers. She
congratulated everyone and even gave tight hugs to some of the tribe members
including his friend Councilor Rodrigo Jamorabon. That was a world-class
performance by Talakudong dancers. They were simply amazing,” she exclaimed.

Elma, a Tacurongnon who gained international prominence in the
field of science and technology because of her ‘iBus’ invention, was in Panay
for a special project. She decided never to let go of the chance to witness her
kababayans’ outstanding performance. She reiterated her amazement to the kids’
performance on Facebook saying I was just blown away. Mighty proud of the
world-class performance of the City of Tacurong during the Dinagyang Festival
in Iloilo City today.”

Many others who were in Iloilo to witness the Dinagyang shared
their admiration to Talakudong’s act. Senate President Franklin Drilon, who was
at the Freedom Grandstand, gave Mayor Lina Montilla double thumbs up. Mayor Jed
Patrick Mabilog and many others also congratulated the mayor. Montilla was also
at the grandstand with Vice Mayor Joseph Lechonsito and other Tacurong City
officials.

Mabilog later told Montilla that even the United States
Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg had gotten interest in Tacurong
and has been asking questions on how to get there.

Opening Salvo Performance

Tribu Talakudong, invited by the Iloilo City government to
perform during the highlight of the Dinagyang Festival on January 25, provided
the opening salvo performance before the start of the much-anticipated Ati Competition. Koronadal City’s Pyesta
Kolon D’tal, performed second to Talakudong. Tacurong and Koronadal delegations
were in Iloilo City to take part in the world-class Dinagyang Festival, which
gathers millions of tourists all over the country every year.

Ambassadors and other foreign nationals were among the sea of
people who flocked to Iloilo City during the event this year. As a guest
performer, Tribu Talakudong never failed the expectations of those who had been
anticipating for its act.

Clad in multi-colored costumes and dancing in brisk motion,
Talakudong performers captured the hearts of the delightful and applauding
crowd during their performance in all of the five performance areas.

Photographers were busy clicking trying to get better shots of
the dancers. On the kids’ way to the next performance area, the mammoth crowd
flanking both sides of the streets took time to have their pictures taken with
the dancers.

Jorvelyn Jaruda Espinosa, an Iloilo resident and Executive
Director of Maya Learning Center, also posted her praises to Talakudong on her
Facebook wall. This year’s celebration of Dinagyang was highlighted by two
performances of our guests from Tacurong and Koronadal cities,” she said.

Their performances left me in awe at the purity of the celebration
in honor of Señor Santo Niño… purity in the sense that they all performed as a
group in sync and they took the front stage not the props and the costumes.
The colorful costumes and props merely enhanced their dance and movements”,
Espinosa added. I was struck by the feeling that it was as if I was with them
in Tacurong and Koronadal. They brought me home with them with their
performance. How apt that they are now our sister cities.”

Strengthening of sisterhood

In his speech in front of thousands of audience during the
opening program of the Ati Competition at the Freedom Grandstand, Mayor Mabilog
recognized the presence of Mayor Lina Montilla of Tacurong and Mayor Peter
Miguel of Koronadal.

He explained to the Iloilo people that the sisterhood agreement
forged with the two Hiligaynon-speaking cities in Mindanao is part of the
Balik-Iloilo program of the city government that is to invite Mindanaoans with
Ilonggo roots to visit Iloilo especially during Dinagyang Festival.

According to Mabilog, the sisterhood will also pave the way for
exchanges that will benefit the sister cities such as in the areas of commerce,
culture and tourism hence the presence in Iloilo of the key officials from
Tacurong City.

Before the performance of Tribu Talakudong, Mabilog conferred to
Montilla the title Dinagyang Pangulong Hangaway” or head warrior in honor of
the sisterhood agreement. Montilla was given the headdress, garb and other
tokens. The same gesture was afforded to Mayor Miguel.

Mayor Montilla was extremely overwhelmed by the hospitality and
how the Tacurong delegation was very well received by the Iloilo people.

Our travel to Iloilo City is a milestone. The whole country and
the world have come to know our city and our Talakudong Festival. The
invitation of the city government of Iloilo for our dancers to perform on the
world-class Dinagyang stage manifested Mayor Mabilog’s commitment of keeping
true to the spirit of sisterhood,” Montilla said.

Tacurong City, with its group of performers from Tacurong Pilot
Elementary School, went to Iloilo to with the aim of showcasing Tacurong’s
beauty and culture to the national stage. With the praises the performers had
gotten from the Iloilo crowd, they sure won the hearts not only of the Ilonggos
of Panay but also of the thousands of local and international tourists who came
to witness world-class performances at the Ati competition.

Talakudong’s presentation of its unique culture added flavor to
the Dinagyang and provided a breath of fresh air to those who long for
something new. Indeed, it was a mighty performance from the little kids of
Tacurong City.