ILOILO CITY, Dec. 18 -- Iloilo's "Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan," one of the major highlights for the 2026 Dinagyang Festival, just keeps getting better.

"I think it will be more different. It will be more competitive because they know that Maasin, the Tultugan, has elevated the standards, especially since they are the national champions. I think that is the challenge right now," Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said in a media interview on Wednesday afternoon.

Defensor was referring to the Tultugan Festival of the Municipality of Maasin, which emerged as champion in the Parada ng Kalayaan 2025 Festival Performance Competition, and first runner-up in the Aliwan Fiesta 2024.

The Tultugan is set to defend its crown from eight other festi...