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| A competitor shows off her colorful costume at the Dinagyang festival in Iloilo on Sunday. Photo from the Facebook album of Rock Drilon |
MANILA, Philippines -- Dinagyang fever has extended from the streets of Iloilo to the Internet as the competing tribes in this year's Ati Tribe competition wowed spectators on Sunday.
The jampacked Iloilo Freedom Grandstand is the main site for the revelry as spectators crammed the venue to witness what is widely considered the best tourism event of the country.
"The choreography has improved, as well as the costumes," Nick Jardin, president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, told ABS-CBN News.
Olive Cork, a tourist, said she found the presentations great. "Definitely I will invite my friends to come here next year."
On the Internet, netizens shared their excitement over the Iloilo festival.
"Watch Dinagyang now so cool and fantastic a very hot rival of Rio Mardi Gras," tweeted MJAllones.
Blogger Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet also provided constant updates about the presentations via Twitter.
"Grabe yung #Dinagyang tribu Pan-ay the defending champions! Love the fast pace, eagle theme dance sequence. Astig!" Diaz said through his Twitter account.
Tribu Pan-ay also trended briefly on Twitter on Sunday.
Diaz said he also liked Tribu Lunok for their colorful props.
Apart from the Ati Tribe Competition, the different festivals in Western Visayas were featured in the Kasadyahan competition.
Before the competition started, a Mass was held at the San Jose Church for devotees of the Sto. Nino, which was attended by US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. and South African Ambassador to the Philippines Agnes Nyamande Pitso, as well as provincial officials.
Celebrities also joined in the fun, including ABS-CBN stars Bea Alonzo, Enchong Dee, Gerald Anderson, JM de Guzman and Melissa Ricks. -- Report from Joyce Clavecillas, ABS-CBN News