SM City Iloilo serves as the ideal gateway to Dinagyang magic

February 7, 2024
4 min read

The annual Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo takes place on the fourth Sunday of January, marking one of the city’s most cherished and vibrant periods. The festival—spanning three days and two nights—is a lively showcase of culture, dance, food, music, and revelry.

Recently designated as a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative City for Gastronomy, Iloilo proudly flaunts its culinary delights, offering a gastronomic adventure for those who land in the city.

SM City Iloilo serves as the ideal hub to experience all that Dinagyang has to offer, fostering excellent private-public collaborations with the Iloilo local government throughout the three days to enhance visitors’ experiences in this ‘original’ Queen City of the South.

*Ms. Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee visits Iloilo City for a meet-and-greet event with her fans at SM Southpoint.*

*Singer JK Labajo entertains fans with his hits during the Viva Music Festival at SM Southpoint.*b

Upon arriving in Iloilo, one must indulge in the famed Ilonggo cuisine. To welcome SM VIP guests, the Iolilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) hosted a hearty meal at Tatoy’s Manokan and Seafoods Restaurant on Villa Beach.

The Grand Iloilo Food Festival by SM City Iloilo provided tourists and festival-goers the chance to savor Batchoy, a dish that Iloilo proudly claims as the best in the world. During the Dinagyang weekend, the Food Festival transformed into a gathering spot for food enthusiasts and Batchoy aficionados.

The Grand Iloilo Food Festival at SM Southpoint serves as a culinary hub, bringing together Ilonggos and tourists to showcase celebrated Ilonggo dishes, complementing Iloilo City’s United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative City of Gastronomy distinction.

The Ilomination Parade acts as a preview to the Dinagyang Festival, representing various districts of Iloilo and serving as a welcome for those visiting for the weekend.

With support from SM Supermalls, a Mayor’s Night at the Park Inn Ballroom, hosted by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, welcomed foreign dignitaries, fellow Mayors from Guam, and special guests.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas (4^th from right) with Ms. Universe Philippines Iloilo Alexie Mae Brooks (center), Iloilo First Lady Rosalie Treñas (3^rd from right), and Iloilo lone district congresswoman Julienne Baronda (2^nd from right), along with Mrs. Trenas’ high school classmates, during the Mayor’s Reception at Park Inn Iloilo.

VIP guests also went on an Iloilo Heritage House Tour, where they explored the city’s landmarks and historic mansions, revealing the intricate connection between the sugar industry and the city.

The Nelly Gardens, the Ledesma Eagle House, the art-deco Lopez ‘Boathouse,’ the Balay Remedios with its famous restaurant, and the Molo Mansion are architectural wonders that enrich this informative tour, providing a glimpse into the past.

At Dinagyang 2024, the Molo Mansion became the venue for the launch of a coffee table book, Houses That Sugar Built, authored by Gina Consing McAdam and featuring images by the Irish photographer Siobhan Doran.

*At the Molo Mansión for the book launch of* “*Houses that Sugar Built” by Gina Consing McAdam and featuring images by the Irish photographer Siobhan Doran.*

The Molo Mansion, a prime example of adaptive reuse, was the ancestral home of the Consings. Sold to the SM Group nine years ago and meticulously restored, it now functions as a Kultura retail store with food pop-ups in the garden, becoming a favored spot for tourists. Consing herself expressed excitement at seeing the house where her grandmother grew up not falling into disrepair but standing as a vibrant structure.

Sunday marked Dinagyang Day, where the city erupted with street celebrations, bringing culture, art, and music to life as expressions of city pride.

Celebrating National Autism Consciousness Week, an event with SM Cares, SM City Iloilo, and the Autism Society of the Philippines Iloilo Chapter is held at Park Inn Iloilo, featuring Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee (4th from left) and SM Supermalls President Steven Tan (third from left).

In commemoration of National Autism Consciousness Week, celebrated every third week of January, SM also organized an event for the National Week of Autism Society of the Philippines Iloilo Chapter at the Park Inn in SM City Iloilo. Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee and SM Supermalls President Steven Tan graced the event.