Dinagyang Festival: A Grand Celebration of the Vibrant Culture of Iloilo

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Iloilo's famous Dinagyang Festival, showcases the tribal costumes, culture, history, tradition and devotion to the image of the Santo Niño."

It was indeed a grand celebration of the vibrant culture of the city! It bursts with color and creativity that's comparable to the other Philippine fiestas across the country.

Iloilo is also a favorite destination of both local and foreign tourists during the festival parades and ceremonies.

The Dinagyang (dee-nag-yungh) Festival is a religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City, Philippines held on the fourth Sunday of January, or right after the Sinulog in Cebu and the Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan.

 
The 50th Anniversary in Iloilo City was a pleasure to see and feel. Similar to other festivities all over the country, many of those who performed were high school students who spent the entire year working on their routine and costumes. 

The youth has an endless supply of eagerness and enthusiasm that they seem to be tireless and always full of energy. It makes me wonder how they could cope with the after class practices and extracurricular activities while they study their lessons, or vice versa depending on their priorities. Lol!

But for me, being actively engaged in such activities during school years builds the youth to become better citizens of the nation since it also improves many of their necessary attributes like camaraderie among their peers, involvement in culture-inspired movements (honoring the city they represent), plus builds up their stamina and endurance (from all those weekly routine practices).

Nothing can beat the street parties in Iloilo City, also known as the City of Love, even if others would challenge or contest that statement. This is probably because it is not as commercialized as other festivals that have turned into mostly brand-sponsored activities ruined by so many brand tarpaulins, posters and banners carrying logos and promos.

But we're not really complaining as the sponsorship also made it possible to bring in more stuff such as celebrities for additional eye-candy. Though it somehow robbed the attention of the masses on the original concept of the festival, the new generation would not be eating up the showbiz attraction if they are not really addicted to teleserye or movie fanaticism.

By the way, these celebrities would readily hop aboard a plane and show up in Iloilo on their own if the festival is truly awesome. We would prefer to see those who naturally adore the festivities rather than those who were paid to be there. But hey, they won't be expected to perform a song and dance number if they were not hired to do so. Thus, it makes sense to have sponsored activities since a city would need to spend a lot for talent fees.

Do we also cheer for the politicians who were seen as VIP guests on stage, and those mingling with the crowd like they are common Ilongos?

The Dinagyang festival culminated with the intense Ati-Atihan parade but as we go back home to Manila, the memories will forever seem immortalized in our souls as we excitedly anticipate next year's run.

I can't show you all the wonderful photos we got from the festival but you can check them out at our official Facebook page at http://www.Facebook.com/wazzuppilipinas
Congratulations Iloilo. Keep on making us proud to the world for having yearly successful performances that awe the crowd of both new and returning visitors, including the locals themselves.

"Jetlagged and peeling like an amphibian. I would describe my skin color as Dinagyang-Black."

Photos by Collin Yap

Entertainment and Music Network Soon to Rise Online

Wazzup Pilipinas!

My kids no longer watch TV.

It has been several years already that we couldn't even keep them away from their tablets, smartphones, smart TVs and laptops because they're all glued browsing the Internet, and among what keeps them busy is watching livestreams and other video content.

Information is faster, more comprehensive and intellectually-challenging compared to the traditional TV (especially the very predictable and cheap Pinoy teleseryes), plus you could immediately choose your preferred content - that is humungously endless on the Internet. Whether it is from fellow Filipinos or from citizens of other countries, you'll find a lot more amazing content-providers online.

Even traditional media have alreadyvbeen  sharing news or information that they see online .... which only means one reality - online is the NOW and the FUTURE.

This makes us so very excited for our online TV/radio project that's soon to happen anytime now. There's already a lot of interested hosts/DJs joining so this will be an awesome collaboration with peeps to air their own shows specially conceptualized by themselves.

We've identified all the equipment already, and now we're doing the stage/booth designs next!

We'll be able to invite various guests to share their stories, promote their products, services and events, and of course, advertise.

Everything's livestreaming online, and also recorded, thus media mileage will be better because the content will stay on the Internet forever! Yup! There is forever!!! Meaning you can watch again and again your favorite shows.

Viewer interaction is immediate since everypne could post their comments, questions, feedbacks, etc. in real time.

Enough with the expensive advertising, we can customize our packages to fit your budget!

"In time we should be able to do it all, in one sense. For now, we're just testing and rolling. In a few more days, or a week we are in the process of re-designing our logos, our our websites, our formats, etc. etc.  For now, please always also remember that we are INTERNATIONAL / WORLD-WIDE IN SCOPE!   So when Philippines is "sleeping" we do have the rest of the world listening as well.  And we will also have DEEJAY's and Radio/ TV Personalities there as well.

So what are you guys waiting for?

Find out how you could collaborate with us! there's always rooms for everyone because this project is for all of us.

Online rules!

8 Foods To Add To Your Weight Loss Diet For Women

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It can be hard to know what you should and shouldn't eat for a weight loss diet for women when there are so many foods to choose from. But, there are some foods that are great for you and help you lose weight at the same time.


WHAT MAKES A FOOD THE 'HEALTHIEST'

The healthiest foods should meet 6 important criteria:

Dense Nutrients - They should have a high percentage of essential nutrients compared to the amount of calories.

Good Taste - If you have to hold your nose and gag it down, chances are you won't eat it no matter how good it is for you.

Whole - Processed foods have been stripped of most of their nutrients and have had a ton of artificial ingredients added to them that just aren't good for you.

Affordable - You need to be able to find them fresh, at a good price.

Available - The best foods can be found from your local market. Many of them are locally grown.

Familiar - The healthiest foods should be easily recognizable. You should know how to prepare them and what foods they work with, to make them easy to add to your meal plans.


So what are the best foods for weight loss for women?

Beef: The fat content in beef regulates your hormones. This is great for preventing that afternoon crash. Try adding it to your breakfast with some nuts to improve your mental accuracy and focus. The protein also helps rebuild muscle tissue after you exercise, aiding in your post work out recovery. What a great way to start your day!

Fish Oil: Fish oils have a ton of benefits.

They:
- Give your body energy- Prevent fat storage
- Increase your body's insulin sensitivity- Lower your cholesterol levels
- Promote muscle growth
- Reduce inflammation- Lower blood pressure.

Some studies have even found fish oils reduce your risk of various cancers and other diseases. And because it improves so many different aspects of your health and athletic performance, it makes it one of the best supplements you can take in a weight loss diet for women.

Grapefruit: Grapefruit contain a number of important nutrients and antioxidants including:

- Vitamin C
- Lycopene
- Polyphenols
- Phenolic compounds
- Limonoids
- Pectin
- Naringenin

EGGS: The leucine found in eggs makes them a great food to include in a weight loss diet for women. This amino acid helps reduce the amount of lean tissue loss, while increasing fat loss and stabilizing your glucose levels. In other words, it boosts your metabolism and turns you into a fat-burning machine.

BROCCOLI: Low in carbs and high in fiber, broccoli helps you feel full and sustain your energy levels. It's low in calories and fat, and high in vitamin C, which helps you fight illnesses while and burn fat. In fact, one study performed by Dr. Carol Johnston found vitamin C could increase weight loss by up to 30%.

BEANS: If added to your diet in the right way, beans can help you lose lots of weight. They're an excellent source of lean protein and low in calories, so use them to substitute foods that are high in calories and saturated fats. And because they're high in fiber, they'll help you feel full, so you'll eat less without feeling hungry.

TURKEY: Turkey is an excellent source of protein and low in calories, but the best part about eating turkey is its high level of tryptophan. Tryptophan is one of the 10 essential amino acids the body uses in a number of processes, including producing nervous system messengers like those necessary for rest, relaxation, and sleep.

SWEET POTATOES: Sweet potatoes are another food high in fiber, which is important in a weight loss diet for women.

Fiber helps keeps us regular, fights diseases, and reduces our risk of colon cancer. It also slows digestion to help you feel fuller longer, while helping us flush fat from our bodies.

Sweet potatoes are also an excellent source of beta-carotene, complex carbohydrates, manganese, vitamin b6, and vitamin c. Their antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties are great for helping you stay healthy and rebuild muscle tissue after exercising.

Add these eight foods into a weight loss diet for women and you'll be losing inches and building muscle like crazy. You'll look fantastic and feel like you can take on the world, and that's how you should feel!

Flavia Del Monte is a Registered Nurse, Certified Physical Trainer, Certified Nutritionist and the creator of Full-Body-Licious. You can read more about her training programs, nutrition advice and workouts for women on her female fitness blog.


Author Bio:

Nicole Clark is a freelance writer. Deeply engaged in studying education topics. She has experience in writing works for famous media and educational blogs. Nicole has her own blog on Blablawriting.com and helps students with writing essays and dissertations. She believes that the right choice of the topic is 90% success.