Lifestyle

The Granadianz champions performing Saturday evening.*Ronnie Baldonado photoGranadianz was the champion again in the 2025 Bacolaodiat Festival Street and Lantern Dance Competition in Bacolod City, organizers announced on Sunday, Feb. 2.Jojaju and The Luminaries were first and second runners up, respectively.Granadianz was also named Best in Lantern , Jojaju - Best in Costume and CHMSU - Aliji - Netizens' Choice.Joedem Casabuena, Granadianz choreographer, thanked everyone who supported them and the people behind the Bacolaiodiat Festival for their victory.Jojaju was first runner up*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Luminaries were second runner up*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe street and lantern dance competition was held at the Bacolaodiat Festival site at ...

The ceremonial lighting of incense at the opening of the Bacolaodiat Festival with Bacolaodiat Inc. President John Stephen Sy, Chairman Emeritus Fred Barcelona, Bacolod councilors Em Ang, Kalaw Puentevella and Jason Villarosa and Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber and Commerce and Industry Inc. vice president Elbert Valencia (l-r) at the North Capitol Road in Bacolod City.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Emperor’s Market and Imperial Village of the Bacolaodiat Festival 2025 officially opened with a ribbon cutting and traditional incense lighting ceremony at the North Capitol Road in Bacolod City on Friday, Jan. 31.John Stephen Sy, chair of the Bacolaodiat Festival, with chairman emeritus and founding chair Alfredo Barcelona, the board members - Michelle Chua, Caryn Keng Seng, Odette Ong-Go...

Christine Guillero and  Roland James Brown at the Dinagsa Festival.*Cadiz City’s Dinagsa Festival became the unforgettable backdrop for a love story.Roland James Brown Jr., a 39-year-old U.S. Marine veteran and server at a popular restaurant in Disney Springs, Orlando, Florida, and 20-year-old Christine Pacilan Guillero from Cadiz were officially engaged during the Dinagsa Festival 2025, in front of a massive crowd at the grandstand Sunday afternoon, January 26.Brown proposed amid the festive atmosphere.“It didn’t take me long to know Christine was the one,” Brown said.“She’s so caring and genuine. From the start, she introduced me to her family, and that really showed me how serious she was about us”, he said.Even with a 12-hour time difference, Brown and Guil...

The  Yuan Thong Temple at Burgos Street in Bacolod City*Activities to welcome the Year of the Wood Snake and the Bacolaodiat Festival are set at the Yuan Thong Temple at Burgos Street in Bacolod City, Tuesday and Wednesday, January 28 to 29.The Chinese New Year’s Eve celebration at the temple will start at 5 p.m. Tuesday with incense and light offerings, lion dances, stage performances, and will culminate at midnight with the bell-ringing ceremony for blessings, a press release from the Bacololaodiat Festval organizers said Monday.The celebration will continue from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m, Wednesday with the temple opening its gates to everyone for a day of incense and light offerings and prayers for prosperity and good fortune.The temple will stay open until February 2 for ...

Tribu Sicablun Quatro -  Dinagsa Festival's street dance champion* Ronnie Baldonado photoTribu Sicablun Quatro of barangays Sicaba, Luna and Zone 4 in Cadiz City was named this year's Dinagsa Festival street dance champion on Sunday, January 26.Tribu Sicablun Quatro bested seven other tribes in a lively dance competition that drew thousands of spectators, a press release from Cadiz City said.Tribu Sicablun Quartro beat last year's grand winner - Tribu Bucad Cadiz Viejo of barangays Burgos, Caduhaan, Cadiz Viejo.It took home the grand prize of P200,000 plus P50,000 for two minor awards - best in costume and choreography.Named second placer and best in performance was Tribu Tinambi-Tres of barangays Tinampaan, Mabini and Zone 3.The group went home with P175,000 c...

Some 358 participants – kids on the autism spectrum and their families, disability leaders, Bacolod City government representatives, and advocacy volunteers of SM City Bacolod – joined in the nationwide celebration of National Autism Consciousness Week by watching the sensory-friendly Filipino film, Firefly, on Friday, Jan. 17.Dubbed “Lights Up, Sounds Down,” this movie experience was unique for the audience because of adjustments SM made to the lighting and sound to minimize sensory overload.Additionally, the relaxed atmosphere allowed for movement and vocalizations, making the experience more enjoyable and less restrictive.Noting that many individuals with autism have not been inside a cinema or fully enjoyed the experience, May Castro, the public relations manager of SM City...

The MassKara Festival dancers of Barangay Granada in Bacolod City, led by village chief Armando Vito (seated, 2nd from left), meet with (from left) Secretary to the Mayor Marty Go, Councilor Jason Villarosa and City Chief Tourism Operations Officer Teresa Manalili at the Bacolod City Government Center on Monday*The MassKara Festival dancers of Barangay Granada, Bacolod City, will receive a P1.5-million subsidy from the Sinulog Foundation Inc. to represent Bacolod City in the Sinulog sa Sugbo World 2025 in Cebu City on Jan. 19.“This highlights the significance of their role in representing Bacolod City,” the City Tourism Office said in a statement on Monday.Barangay Granada, a six-time champion of the MassKara Festival street dance and arena competition, including the 2024 editi...

Bacolod City is gearing up for the staging of the 20th year of the Bacolaodiat Festival, one of the country’s largest Chinese New Year celebrations, on Jan. 31 to Feb. 2.This year’s festivity will be held along 6th to 13th-Lacson streets, with the main festival site still at the North Capitol Road.Bacolaodiat Festival chairperson John Stephen Sy said the organizers are coordinating with concerned national government agencies, volunteer organizations and city government offices as part of the preparations.“Collaboration is important to achieve our shared vision. We aim to have a safer and more successful celebration of the Bacolaodiat Festival this 2025,” he added.Traditional events include cultural performances, a lantern street and arena dance competition, and an Asian foo...