'A COMPLETE SUCCESS’; Face-to-face Dinagyang exceeded expectations

January 25, 2023



 Patawaran and Chef Tibong Jardeleza,Jr. 
  Hala Bira! Lifestyle columnist Tessa Prieto, TV Personality Tim Yap and broadcaster Karen Davila at the Dinagyang Exhibit with SM Supermalls president Steven Tan.

The special guests were seen enjoying the Ilomination night at SM City Iloilo with Mayor Jerry Treñas, SM’s SVP for Operations Bien Mateo, Talent Manager Jojie Dingcong, Youtube celebrity Small Laude,veteran broadcaster Karen Davila, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, philanthropist and influencer Tessa Prieto, eventologist Tim Yap, Manila Bulletin’s Arnel



ILOILO City – With thousands of domestic and foreign visitors packing various festival activities, Dinagyang’s return to the city’s streets exceeded expectations, according to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.

A “complete success” was how he described the festival’s return to a face-to-face celebration after two years of restrictions due to the coronavirus disease pandemic.

“Everyone wanted a strong comeback…It was a complete success and this showed that Dinagyang and our Sto. Niño are beyond politics,” added Treñas.

Conversation over Batchoy with Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, lifestyle columnist and philanthropist Tessa Prieto, TV personality Tim Yap, veteran broadcaster Karen Davila, Manila Bulletin’s Arnel Patawaran and renowned Iloilo Chef, Rafael "Tibong" Jardeleza Jr. 

Dinagyang Festival is known far and wide for its participants’ impressive choreography and striking costumes that reflect Ilonggo ingenuity, craftsmanship and artistry.
Treñas congratulated the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), major co-presentor of Dinagyang 2023, the participating tribes and corporate sponsors, among others.

“I acknowledge all our sponsors from the private sector for their significant contributions in the success of Dinagyang. Of course, sa inyo tanan, mga pinalangga ko nga Ilonggo. Ang tanan nga ini bangud sa inyo kag para man sa inyo. Your strong support in all our activities played a meaningful role in the overall success of the festival,” said Treñas.

(From left to right) House Speaker Martin Romualdez, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas during the Dinagyang Dance Competition at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.


Darren Espanto wowed the audience with his song and dance performances



Youtube star Small Laude with Talent Manager Jojie Dingcong enjoying a bowl of Batchoy at SM City Iloilo



The festival’s top sponsor was SM City Iloilo; it also served as venue for many Dinagyang activities, including the first-ever Dinagyang Ilomination on Jan.21, Batchoy Festival, festival costumes exhibit, and concert of various performing artists including Asia’s Pop Heartthrob Darren Espanto, among others.
A number of celebrities, prominent government officials and foreign dignitaries also came over, including First Lady Liza Marcos, YouTube sensation Small Laude, broadcast journalist Karen Davila, lifestyle columnist and philanthropist Tessa Prieto Valdez, television presenter and entrepreneur Tim Yap, former senator Franklin Drilon, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, among others. They were warmly welcomed by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and SM Supermalls president Steven Tan. 


Several dignitaries form foreign embassies attended the festivities as well: Romanian Ambassador to the Philippines HE Raduta Dana Matache with Mr. Constantin Matache ; Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines HE Agus Widjojo and his wife, Mme. Ranny Agus Widjojo; Royal Thai Ambassador to the Philippines HE Tull Traisorat; Royal Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines HE Christian Halaas Lyster; Hungary Ambassador to the Philippines HE Titanilla Toth; Embassy of Polland Ambassador to the Philippines HE Jaroslaw Szczepankiewicz ; Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Ms. P.G.P. Kaushalya; Consul General of Japan in Cebu Hideki Yamaji; and Embassy of the United States in the Philippines Chief Consuls Kristofer Graf and Leo Balantac.







Dinagyang is the Hiligaynon word for revelry or merrymaking. The festival is Iloilo City’s version of the Ati-atihan celebrations widely observed not only in Panay Island but also in other parts of the country.

Two of the many foreign dignitaries who graced the festival were full of praises.

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Darren Espanto and TJ Monterde brought smiles to Cebuanos at the Vivo V9 Mall Tour Cebu leg

Darren Espanto, who just recently concluded his successful Unstoppable concert a few days ago, flew to Cebu to be with fans at the Vivo V9 Mall Tour last June 1. Singer/songwriter and fellow Vivo endorser TJ Monterde was also in the oldest city in the country last June 3 to make an appearance at the same Vivo event.


Darren, a Vivo endorser, holds a Vivo V9 in his hand at the Vivo V9 Mall Tour at SM City Cebu last June 1.


The Cebuano fans flocked to SM City Cebu last June 1 where they were treated to songs by Darren who even greeted his fans from the Queen City of the South in the local Cebuano dialect. Darren sang his top-of-the-charts hits along with his own rendition of Dying Inside. Darren, who just turned seventeen, was even surprised by the Darrenatics—his own fan base—onstage with a cake to celebrate his birthday and fourth year in showbusiness.


Darren renders songs for his fans who flocked to the Vivo V9 mall tour at SM City Cebu last June 1 


TJ, a proud Vivo Endorser, visits Cebu for the Vivo V9 Mall Tour at SM City Cebu last June 3 


TJ gives long time girlfriend and fellow Vivo Endorser KZ Tandingan a call before the audience at the Vivo V9 Mall Tour at SM City Cebu last June 3. 

The Vivo V9 Mall Tour at the SM City Cebu was well-received by the Cebuanos. Apart from the appearances made by Darren and TJ, the big-ticket brand also gifted fans and loyal Vivo users with premium Vivo items and even Vivo V9 smartphones at the special games held at the event. The Vivo V9 Mall Tour in Cebu was just one of a few more to happen in an effort to bring the brand and the V9 closer to the Filipinos in different places all over the country.
The Vivo V9 is an artificial intelligence (AI) selfie camera with a 16 MP+5 MP dual-camera setup. Much like its predecessors, the V7 and V7+, the V9 also rocks a 24 MP selfie camera that comes with features like AI Face Beauty Natural Light, Studio Light, and Monochrome background which brings selfie-taking with the new Vivo smartphone several notches higher in the quality scale. Selfie-fans will also benefit in the ample phone display of the Vivo V9 as it could improve the overall composition of every photograph taken, with enhanced clarity and definition.



About Vivo
A global smartphone brand focused on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivo develops innovative and stylish products for young people. We now have over two hundred million users and are one of the preferred brands of young people around the world. As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™, Vivo believes in the importance of encouraging young people to embrace self-expression and an energetic lifestyle.  In the Philippines, Vivo is the top 3 smartphone brand in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide.   

For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vivophil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines /), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.  




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Vivo co-sponsors Darren Espanto’s jampacked birthday concert

Vivo local endorser and one of the biggest artists in the country to date, Darren Espanto wowed fans in a birthday concert held last May 26 at the KIA Theatre. The concert, fittingly entitled Unstoppable, was representative of Darren ad his unwavering talent. Darren, who started singing at only two years old and then entered the music industry at a tender age of 13, is truly unstoppable with concerts, appearances, and album launches left and right. As a proof of his rising celebrity, the Unstoppable concert was graced by guests including budding singer Jayda Avanzado.



Darren was indeed unstoppable during his show at the Kia Theatre on May 26. 


Despite his tender age, Darren performed like a real pro at his concert at Kia Theatre. 


Darren’s Unstoppable concert was co-presented by Vivo, one of the top three smartphone brands in the country today. Apart from Darren’s impressive performances, fans were treated to a special meet-and-greet segment where questions from Twitter were entertained by the young performer.

Darren was officially signed as a Vivo endorser last year and he has since graced several Vivo events such as the brand’s Christmas outreach activity bringing joy to 150 soldiers from Marawi at the Armed Forces of the Philippines hospital, the Vivo V7+ All Screen Experience mall tour at SM Marikina November last year, among others.


Darren made sure that his fans had a good time at his solo concert. 

Darren, a self-confessed K-pop junkie who can both sing and strut a mean dance move to boot, is set to do more Vivo event appearances as the year progresses.  

About Vivo
A global smartphone brand focused on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivo develops innovative and stylish products for young people. We now have over two hundred million users and are one of the preferred brands of young people around the world. As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™, Vivo believes in the importance of encouraging young people to embrace self-expression and an energetic lifestyle.  In the Philippines, Vivo is the top 3 smartphone brand in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide.   

For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vivophil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines /), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.  








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Showing posts with label Darren Espanto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Darren Espanto. Show all posts