Experience Iloilo

*with reports from the daily guardian newspaper

Lin-ay as simulated in the New Iloilo City Hall render

The "Lin-ay" actually is a 15-foot statue of an Ilongga lady that will be put on top of the dome of the new City Hall, which the honorable mayor of Iloilo City - Jed Patrick E. Mabilog wants to make this as an icon of the city.

This Statue of Ilonggo Pride, is another obra of renowned multi-media visual artist, Professor Edward Defensor.

Professor Ed Defensor and her Lin-ay masterpiece

The lady, is a composite of Ilongga ladies and a true Ilongga in all aspects. She is shown hugging with her right arm, newly-harvested stalks of rice, and in her left hand she is holding a scythe ("garab"), most common harvesting implement of the province. She is as well standing on a field of newly-harvested rice, all to symbolize the prosperity ("kauswagan") of the province and its great city of Iloilo. Her head is tilted up in a pose to symbolize hope ("paglaum"), and her entire mien symbolizes peace ("paghidaet")

The woman statue wears a “Patadyong” skirt and a “Sablay” made of Hablon, products of the then flourishing weaving industry in Iloilo. On its chest is an ethnic necklace symbolic of the rich ethnic culture of Iloilo, also a symbol of being a descendant of the royal line of Datus and a denizen of Iloilo’s internationally known folk-history.

Lin-ay: the Statue of Ilonggo Pride

The "Lin-ay" is standing on a squarish pedestal, festooned with ethnic designs, but most importantly, the four sides will be sculpted with images of the four major economic components of Iloilo--rice farming, sugar cane farming, fishing, and the industrial component.

She will be completely in bronze, and like the Lady of Freedom of Washington D.C. will also serve as a lightning rod.

Upon completion she will be the biggest statue in Iloilo City and the whole of Iloilo province, and our first important cultural edifice since the Arroyo fountain which was put up in the early 1900s.

(Texts are excerpts from Prof. Defensor's description of Lin-ay)
photo credits: Prof. Ed Defensor

The 7th Sinamba sa Paraw Regatta grand champion, Grupo del Oeste of West Visayas State University’s College of Physical Education, Sports, Culture, Arts and Recreation, has bagged the chance to perform in the upcoming Aliwan Festival.

The annual festival organized by the Manila Broadcasting Company will be held this April in Metro Manila. It features various Philippine festivals.

According to Tourism Regional Director Edwin Trompeta, the grand winner of the recent Dinagyang Festival, Tribu Pan-ay of Fort San Pedro National High School, is also expected to compete in the Aliwan.

Grupo del Oeste defeated Grupo Fuerte Baile of Fort San Pedro National High School -- last year’s champion.

This year, Grupo Fuerte Baile was adjudged first runner-up. It also bagged the best in costume and best in production design minor awards.

Grupo del Oeste also won the best in music, best in choreography and best in performance special awards.

2011 sailing competition, Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival

Meanwhile, Grupo Mesa Latinos of La Paz National High School was adjudged second runner-up.

Grupo Las Brillas of Iloilo City National High School was declared the third runner-up.

The best in parade award was handed to Grupo Las Brillas.

The best in float and best in duo performers special awards were awarded to Grupo Mesa Latinos.

Sinamba sa Paraw Regatta is one one of the side events of the Paraw Regatta Festival, now on its 39th year of sailing.

(photo credit: Joel Miles Molina)