announcing the winners of one of my most successful special projects, Dinagyang Kapamilya Dance Showdown Year 2

It all started when SM City Iloilo PR rep. Troy visited my office last November 2007 and asked me if I could partner with them in having a special project for the Dinagyang Festival. I asked him why and his answer was that I am the youngest city official and they believe that I could bring enthusiasm and energy to a possible joint project with them for the Dinagyang season. I told him to give me a week and I'll get back to him with a proposal. I had a week of brainstorming with some people who helped me conceptualize until in the end I decided dancing is something that Ilonggos love to watch and it entertains everyone meaning it goes beyond social class, age and gender. It is something for everybody and it is also healthy being an exercise. Furthermore, it would provide an avenue for young people to show their creativity, talent and skill while avoiding drugs and other vices. Thus, the Dance showdown was born. SM City agreed and then I discussed with ABS CBN Iloilo a possible partnership and they thankful joined. It then became the Dinagyang Kapamilya Dance Showdown. To make it as an officially recognized Dinagyang event, the Dance Showdown became part of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc (IDFI). special events as they became one of our partners. My office, SM City, ABS CBN Iloilo and IDFI collaborated to bring the biggest dance event in Western Visayas.

As they say, anything passes birth pains. Our event was not exempted from such. We had to promote it, get sponsors, manage it well, organize, get in qualified dance groups and had to get the trust and support of the Ilonggos. In December of 2007, the very 1st Dinagyang Kapamilya Dance Showdown was launched and eventually on January of 2008 we had our very first grand finals which became a hit with thousands and thousands of people in attendance. The first one was barangay based dance groups in Iloilo City only. We also had special guests such as Mikey and Saicy of Pinoy Big Brother. The first ever champion was the Christ Believer Dancers representing Barangay Calumpang, Molo. I'd also like to thank major sponsors, TM SPA Europa Skinea, PEPSI Cola Philippines and Ticel Land Corporation as well as other sponsors like AMA Computer College Jaro and the Iloilo City Hall Press Corps for helping us make it a successful event and endeavor. It was all worth the hardships and sacrifice.

As such, a challenge was thrown to me by the City Tourism Officer and former Executive Director of the IDFI, Mr. Ben Jimena when he said that the 1st Dinagyang Kapamilya Dance Showdown was the biggest special Dinagyang event and the biggest crowd drawer and he expects a bigger and more lively Dinagyang Kapamilya Dance Showdown year 2. The same was echoed by Ms. Chari Ginete-Ilon, the Station Manager of ABS CBN Iloilo. I accepted the challenge and the year 2 of our joint project event was again launched in October of 2008, the first officially recognized Dinagyang event. This time it was open to all dance groups from schools or barangays and even beyond the borders of Iloilo City. October to November of 2008 was the time for auditions. December was the month of eliminations. Today, Jan 23, our grand finals for year 2 happened. I was very nervous yesterday and I couldn't even sleep well because I was nervous of the possible turn out and I had to meet the high expectations and the challenge that was thrown to me. Much to my delight, the event was scheduled to start at 4pm but people crowded the whole ground floor and even the second to third floor as early as 2pm. I was very happy with the turn out thousands and thousands of happy, smiling and cheering Ilonggos witnessed the Dinagyang Kapamilya Dance Showdown year 2. Our special guest this time was Sam Concepcion. The champion for this year is the Smash Collection Dancers. They also received a new award category, the best choreography. Another additional special award was the best in costume. I'm glad that I have all my partners in tack for this event. I also would like to thank the major sponsors, Smart Communications, Pepsi Cola Philippines and TM SPA Europa Skinea as well as the other sponsors, AMA Computer College Jaro and the Iloilo Grand Hotel. Special mention goes to my staff especially the Special Projects Department for helping me out with this event.

The biggest thank you goes to the people of Iloilo. Kung wala kamu, indi man maging amu ni kasuccesful ang Dinagyang Kapamilya Dance Showdown 1 and 2. Salamat gid sang inyo pagsalig kag suporta. We will try our best to make the third Dinagyang Kapamilya Dance Showdown bigger, more exciting and with more suprises.

We now have two consecutive years of success for this particular special project of my office because of the Ilonggos support. I ask all Ilonggos to join us again in the start of the preparation of the Dinagyang Kapamilya Dance Showdown year 3 for 2010 Dinagyang.

Iwaswas, ipaspas kag ipakita ang talento sang kabataang Ilonggo.