Lifestyle

City PIO photoThe Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod approved on third and final reading an ordinance declaring the MassKara Festival and MassKara dance as cultural property of Bacolod City during its regular session Wednesday, February 8.It shall be known as the MassKara Cultural Property Rights Ordinance, Councilor Em Ang, who authored the ordinance, said.With the passage of the ordinance the Bacolod City Tourism Office shall register the MassKara Festival and MassKara Dance with the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP) under the National Commission for Culture and Arts as a Local Important Cultural Property, she said.“PRECUP is the repository of all information pertaining to cultural properties in the Philippines that are deemed significant to our cultural herit...

The Capitol Lagoon and Park all set for Valentine's Day.*Barbara Mijares photoThe return of the Panaad sa Negros Festival in April, after a three-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, will be launched on Monday, February 13.The tentative venue for the launching of the festival will be at the Capitol Lagoon and Park in Bacolod City, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Tuesday, February 7.The Panaad sa Negros Festival will be held from April 17 to 23.The provincial government is allocating P25 million for the festival and will also provide financial assistance to local governments joining, Diaz said.Manila and local bands will hold concerts throughout the week, he said.There will also be a search for the Lin-ay sang Negros, festival dances and a new ev...

The Granadianz performing at the SM City Mall in Bacolod City Sunday afternoon at the awarding rites.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Granadianz was the grand champion in the Bacolaodiat Festival Lantern Dance Competition held at The Upper East and Bacolod City Government Center on Saturday, January 21.The group received a cash prize of P100,000 during the awarding rites at SM City Bacolod Sunday afternoon, January 22.The Granadianz also took home the Best in Costume and Best in Lantern awards in this year’s Bacolaodiat Festival.The Granadianz was also Megaworld’s Choice and its performers were awarded an additional prize of P10,000.The Jojaju group was declared first runner and was awarded a P80,000 cash prize, while the Carlos Hilado Memorial State University - Alijis group...

Mayor Salvador G. Escalante Jr. declared the 49th Dinagsa Festival in Cadiz City open on Saturday, January 21.The festival will end on Sunday, January 29, with the Dinagsa street dancing competition and street party.The festival kicked off on Saturday with a motorcade led by the force multipliers together with the Road Safety Advocacy and Unity Ride participants followed by representatives of national and local government offices, barangay officials, mascot Niño, festival sponsors, business establishments, and the Cadiz City High School/Dr. Vicente F. Gustilo Memorial National High School Alumni.The parade ended at the city grandstand where a program was held to launch the festivities.The Dinagsa Queen 2023 candidates were presented during the program.The Street Dance C...

Five contingents will participate in the 18th Bacolaodiat Festival - Lantern Dance Competition to be staged at the Bacolod City Government Center and The Upper East on Saturday, January 21.*The Sangguniang Panlungsod on Wednesday, January 18, unanimously approved a resolution declaring Megaworld’s Kevin Tan honorary mayor of Bacolod City from January 20 to 22 during the Bacolaodiat Festival to usher in the Chinese New Year.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez had requested the SP to declare Tan honorary mayor because of Megaworld’s significant contributions to the business landscape of Bacolod City.Megaworld is developing two townships in Bacolod – the 34-hectare The Upper East near the Bacolod Government Center, and the 50-hectare Northill Gateway at the boundary of Bacolod ...

Bacolaodiat Festival 2023 chair John Stephen Sy (right), SM City Bacolod Assistant Mall Manager Julia Javellana (center) and Councilor Jason Villarosa with Tourism Officer Tere Manalili and the Bacolaodiat Inc. board members open the Chinese New Year events at the mall Sunday.*Ronnie Baldonado photoA pre-launch event to jumpstart the 2023 Bacolaodiat Festival and the Chinese New Year was held at SM City Bacolod on Sunday, January 15.The event was attended by Bacolod City officials, members of Bacolaodiat Inc. and officers of SM City Bacolod.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who was represented by Councilor Jason Villarosa and City Tourism Officer Tere Manalili, described the Bacolaodiat Festival as one of the two major events in the city, the other being the MassKara Fest...

Barangay Camingawan was the Sinulog Festival Tribal Arena Dance Competition champion.*Andrew Altarejos photoThousands of people flocked to the 47th Sinulog Festival in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Sunday, January 15, after a two- year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda said he is thankful to God that the festival in honor of the Sto. Niño was successful and peaceful.After all the trials brought on by the pandemic and Typhoon Odette the people of Kabankalan are happy to have finally been able to celebrate the Sinulog, he said.He thanked the city officials for their support in making the festival a success, noting that Kabankalan Bishop Louie Galbines in his message stressed the need for unity for the good of all.Kabankalan will ...

DOT 6 Regional Director Crisanta Marlene P. Rodriguez*Crisanta Marlene P. Rodriguez has assumed her post as Department of Tourism Region VI head, a press release from the DOT said Wednesday, January 4.The new regional director has more than 16 years of experience in development work in the Philippines, partnering and working with upland and coastal communities in developing sustainable livelihood and protecting the environment.Prior to her DOT appointment, she was the director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Biodiversity Management Bureau from 2018 to 2019. She also served as Regional Executive Director of DENR IX where she received the JCI Philippines Western Mindanao’s Pinay Power Award 2020 for her “exemplary dedication to serve beyond the boundaries ...

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on Wednesday, January 4, approved the mayor’s signing of a memorandum of agreement for the allocation of P3 million for the Bacolaodiat Festival that kicks off on January 20.The SP approved the request of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez for authority to sign the MOA with Bacolaodiat Inc. represented by John Stephen Sy, chairman of the Bacolaodiat Festival 2023.Bacolaodiat Inc. on Wednesday released the schedule of activities for the 18th edition of the festival to usher in the Chinese New Year in Bacolod City on January 20 to 22.The three-day 2023 Bacolaodiat Festival will highlight the Year of the Rabbit which is believed to offer opportunities for contemplation, rest and nurturing of body and soul, Sy said.“We are optimistic and it is our...

The BacoLaodiat Festival will once again showcase its famous Chopsticks Alley which will be strategically located at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) and Megaworld’s The Upper East during the City’s celebration of the Chinese New Year from January 19-22.This is the first time that the festival will have two venues for its famous food walk and night market that typically features Chinese culinary delights and Filipino street food favorites, Bacolaodiat Inc. Chairman John Stephen Sy said..“Among the many things we are delighted about is our partnership with Megaworld and the Bacolod City government for the Chopsticks Alley, which we expect will be patronized and visited by the general public in January,” he said.With this announcement, BacoLaodiat Inc. is now opening slo...