Lifestyle

Negrense writer, teacher and researcher Ma. Cecilia Locsin-Nava was one of the awardees of the 37th Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas of the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas at the University of the Philippines-Dilliman in Quezon City, Metro Manila, recently.Locsin-Nava is one of the nine awardees of this year’s Gawad Balagtas awards, which are given to Filipino writers for their exceptional work in the Filipino language and their contribution to Philippine literature.The Gawad was awarded to Locsin-Nava under the Kasaysayang Panitikan at Salin sa Ingles or Historical Literature and English Language Translations category.Locsin-Nava is acclaimed for her specialization in literature and culture in Negros and Western Visayas and is a former dean of the College of Arts and Sc...

Bacolod City officials promote the famous charcoal-grilled chicken through a teaser video of the Chicken Inasal Dance Challenge.* Organizers of this year’s Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival, which is set from May 24 to 26, launched dance competitions as added attractions to the annual event, which puts the spotlight on this city’s famous charcoal-grilled chicken. To take chicken inasal global, new events include the dance challenge and modern movement competition as well as the global beats or street dance competition. Videos of Bacolodnons taking on the Bacolod Chicken Inasal dance craze were posted on social media on Wednesday after the release of the teaser video earlier this week. “This 2024, the celebration shall focus on creating platforms and portals for...

The Bacolod City government on Tuesday, April 23, called for entries to the first Bacolod Film Festival with the theme “Stories with a Smile” set in September this year.Bacolod, known as the “City of Smiles”, is looking for short films with the “potential to inspire laughter, warmth, and a renewed appreciation for the brighter side of life”. “Bacolod should be proud of its creatives. We have very artistic directors, and actors,” Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who chairs the Bacolod Film Festival Council, said. The competition is part of the city’s initiative in line with the implementation of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, with additional funding from the Department of Trade and Industry. Qualified to join are producers, directors, or sc...

Cadiz City’s Ayha Jane Sucajel* Cadiz City’s Ayha Jane Sucajel won  the most number of corporate awards in the  Corporate Day and Preliminary Q&A of the  Lin-ay sang Negros at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City on Tuesday, April 16. Sucajel brought home seven out of 23 corporate awards in one of the important segments of the provincial pageant, a highlight of the Panaad sa Negros Festival this year. She was hailed as Miss Solana, Miss Vasoh, Miss EGY, Miss Emerald Thai, Miss Metro Inn, Miss MediFix, and Miss Petron Elite 2024. Following Sucajel was Cauayan’s bet Zoe Clarisse Limson with five corporate awards - Miss Mangan Restaurant, Azta Ambassador 2024, Miss Flower Studio, Miss Travelton, and Miss Brazaville.Kyla Ros...

The winning performers of Victorias City*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Sidlak Kadalag-an and Tinabuay festivals of Victorias City and Murcia were declared  the champions in the city and municipality categories  of the Best of Festival Dances Competition during the first day of  the Panaad sa Negros Festival  at the Panaad Stadium, Bacolod City, Monday,  April 15.Victorias was also the champion in last year’s competition with Murcia coming in second.Victorias’ festival, which featured the city’s history,  emerged the champion out of the nine cities that competed in the city category and brought home a P200,000  cash prize, Rudy Reveche, Panaad Cultural Competitions chairman, said.The Pintaflores Festival of San Carlos City was in second place with cash prize of P75,000, Silay Ci...

 The 25th Banana Festival of La Castellana town officially kicks off, Monday, April 1, simultaneous with the town's annual patronal fiesta. La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan will lead the opening ceremony at the Panorama Park at 10 a.m. Monday. Also set to start is the Agro- Trade Fair where all the fifteen barangays in the locality will showcase their products especially their homegrown bananas of different varieties. The Agro-Trade Fair will run until April 5. The weeklong festivities will also include the 1st Mayor Mhai's Garden Show that will also start Monday until April 5, and Plaza Food Park at the town plaza. Another highlight of the Silver Banana festival is the search for Banana King and Queen, Monday night to be held at the t...

The singing champions Jabez Dean Marte,  Daisyrie Occeña  and Chrystelle Ann Vailoces with actress Sue Ramirez and Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez (l-r)* Victorias PIO photo Out of the 21 finalists in this year’s   “Tingog sang Kadalag-an” grand finals in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, three contestants emerged as the champions on Saturday, March 23. The Tingog sang Kadalag-an grand finals was held at the Sidlak Victorias Global City in celebration of the 26th Kadalag-an Festival, a press release from the city said Monday, March 25. Chrystelle Ann Vailoces bested  four other  contenders in the Battle of the Champions and received a P20,000 cash prize and trophy. Daisyrie Occeña, who sang her rendition of “What Kind...