Hotels in Iloilo City have already reached at least 2,400 bookings ten days to the highlights of Dinagyang Festival 2025. 

The figure is deemed to be 80 percent of the total number of hotel accommodation in the city, according to Natalie Lim,chairperson of the Iloilo Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) Alliance.

It was learned that the figure does not even include bookings done via a popular web-based marketplace that connects travelers with people who have rooms or homes to rent.

“There are still rooms available for some of the hotels. Some within the route of festivities and where the happenings are…I encourage travelers, tourists and visitors especially during Dinagyang to book as early as possible,” Lim said.

Meanwhile, 46 guests deemed Very Important Persons (VIP) confirmed their visit during the highlights of Dinagyang Festival.

A few of them are senators and members of diplomatic corps from Guam and Israel.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has invited President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, but is awaiting confirmation, as of posting time.

“We are looking forward to a lively Dinagyang. We have invited all the secretaries, all the seating senators, the president and the vice president. Naghahanda tayo para sa kanila dahil usually may kasamahan sila,” Mayor Treñas said.

According to the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI) tickets to the Dinagyang Tribes Competition have already been sold out earlier.

However, tickets to the “Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan,” a dance showdown of town festivals in the Province of Iloilo, are still available, as of posting time.

Judging areas have also been prepped up, such as that at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.

“Before the weekend, magsisimula na ang ibang judging areas dahil usually pinapahuli natin ang Capitol, Quezon-Ledesma at Mabini-Delgado dahil busy streets ang mga yan,” Joyce Ann Clavecillas, IFFI executive director, said.

Food kiosks for the Dinagyang Food Festival will be put up next.